You’ve decided to build the home of your dreams or maybe just a summer cabin to get away now and then. You have probably taken care to find a design you like, a contractor you trust, a location you feel good about. You know what color you want it painted and what kind of cabinets and fixtures you are going to use and all the little details that make it your personal space.
Obviously, for most of us, building a new home is a substantial investment in time, effort, and money. So, after deciding to make this investment have you thought about how you are going to protect it?
Wood is the principle building component in most homes and while we wouldn’t find it very appetizing there are pests that have evolved to eat nothing else. Termites are the most notable example but there are several species of beetle that have become notorious for damaging wood. Some insects like Carpenter ants, don’t actually consume wood but use it as a nesting medium, carving large galleries to build their nests. With a little moisture, Fungus spores present in every breeze will take root and consume the wood.
For thousands of years humanity has waged a running battle with nature to build wood structures that last. Solutions containing salt, arsenic, lead, copper, chromium, petroleum and plant extracts have been used. Changes in how wood materials are fabricated have brought us wood/concrete and wood/plastic composites that resist infestations but because of costs most of the structural wood in buildings is still installed untreated.
Every home will be exposed to structural pests at some point. In many parts of the country treatment for termites is required as part of the construction process but Washington State has not adopted this practice. Additionally, until recently there have been few effective pre-treatments for Carpenter ants, wood boring beetles and fungus which are more prevalent than termites here.
Thanks to efforts of dedicated researchers and professional pest control there are now low toxicity, low cost opportunities to permanently protect structural wood in your home while it is under construction.
Borax (Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate), a mineral salt, is a principal component of sea water. In concentrated form this salt is lethal to most insects and will stop decay fungus infections. Borates used as preservatives are inexpensive compared to other pesticides because their production consists of mining it from salt flats and washing it to remove impurities. No formulating or refining, just dig it up, wash it and package it for use.
Borates have some limitations but are still highly effective and useful. In locations where standing water or regular exposure to rain is likely the borate salts can dissolve and be leached out of the wood over time. If used under these conditions they must be protected with sealants like water repellants or paint.
Wood not exposed to water is where borates really show their muscle. Once applied borates are stable and don't bio-degrade or break down. So treatment lasts for the life of the home. They make the wood lethal to insects that would nest or feed in it. It kills mold and fungus spores on contact. If you have a leak the salts dissolve into the water and are carried along providing protection along the way. When applied to concrete they are highly repellant to termites. And...as if that weren’t enough, Borates are also an effective natural fire retardant.
When a treated building is demolished or remodeled the wood doesn't create an environmental hazard when it’s disposed of.
Consider that the average cost of remedial treatment can be several hundred dollars and even a small repair can exceed a thousand dollars, pre-treatment can easily pay for itself over the life of your home. Consider that the cost
is usually less than the cost of a good set of
house plans and pre-treatment becomes a real
bargain.
If you can build it...
...We can protect it.
For a ‘no obligation’ consultation contact us.