“Powder Post Beetle” Anobiid Beetle

If Anobiid beetle infested wood is found in your house by an Inspector, it is always better to remove the wood and replace it with noninfested wood, preferably with pressure treated wood.  Then treat all of the wood with Tim-bor or other Borate containing material to kill the larvae of the beetle or to prevent the beetles from reinfesting the wood.   A 15% solution, of borate,is required for a one coat application.  To get that percentage of Borate it is necessary to use warm water when disolving the Borate.  Using water as it comes from most faucets on the Peninsula will only yield a 9% solution.  We include a surfactant in the mix (Profoam) which causes the solution to foam up when it is sprayed onto the wood.  This causes the solution to “stick” to the wood rather than running right off.  When carpenter ants are a problem we also include a pyrethroid in the solution to control the carpenter ants.  Doing the job this way costs more money, but as far as we are concerned it is the only way to do it.  You only have one chance to do the job correctly.  We believe in doing the job the best way we know how as it is the only chance to do it.  The Borates are salts and will stay in the wood forever.  It will never need to be done again.  Doing the job right the first time is our goal.  Call us at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508 and give us a chance to bid on your job.  Read older entries on this subject by going to the bottom of the page and clicking on older entries or go to the Catagories column at the right hand side of this website.

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

DOT = Disodium Octoborate Tetrahydrate

DOT or Tim-bor

DOT or Tim-bor

DOT is a salt. That means that it is very stable.  If you take a solution of DOT in a kettle and boil it until all of the water is driven off you will still have Disodium Octoborate Tetrahydrate crusted at the bottom of the kettle.  Once it is sprayed onto the wood it will remain in the wood.  Forever.  Tim-bor is DOT.  Tim-bor is the only formulation that we use for the treatment of Anobiid beetle (Powder post beetle).  DOT is the only material that has really been proven to control Anobiid beetle.  Get the job done right the first time call us at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508. Read the rest of this entry »

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Fungus Rot Under Your Siding

Fungus Rot Conk

Fungus Rot Conk on Hardie Plank

The picture shows a fungus rot conk growing on the outside of Hardi-Plank or LP siding.  Is this happening to your house?  Most people misunderstand what is going on.  This includes people in positions that should know better. This conk is evidence that wood is rotting inside the wall.  It could be the sheathing or the studs.  This is a reproductive body.  It is the final stage of the fungus development.  That means the fungus rot mycelium has been growing in the wall for some time.  This is caused by moisture that comes from the inside of the structure.  Read the rest of this entry »

Republished by Blog Post Promoter