Use Borate to Preserve Lumber

Borate is an excellent option for protecting your home from termites.
Use Borate to Preserve Lumber
If termites eat through the wood in your home, it will make the structure very fragile. Rizky Ade Jonathan/Shutterstock
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Dear James: We have problems with insect damage in our area. When doing a major remodeling project, should we treat all the lumber with spray-on borate chemicals for protection? —Brittany K.
Dear Brittany: It is surprising how fast termites or carpenter ants can hollow out a piece of lumber. You may not notice it for quite a while until you see a spot on the wood surface. The wood can literally collapse when you push on it. Once you find a problem, it is very difficult to get access to completed structures.
James Dulley
James Dulley
Author
Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit Dulley.com. To find out more about James Dulley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at Creators.com. Copyright 2025 Creators.com
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