How to prevent borer

ARTICLE David Brittain

Common borer and other wood boring insects can cause significant damage to timber in buildings. The larvae of borer beetles, known as woodworm in many parts of the world, eat labyrinths through the interior of wood for 2-4 years, before moving to the surface, pupating and emerging as the adult beetle.
Over time affected wood will weaken and exit holes allow water penetration. The extra moisture in the wood will encourage more attacks by borer and may promote wood rot. It is often only during renovations that there is opportunity to gain easy access to the bare interior surfaces of wall timbers. This is the ideal time to treat all the wood that can be accessed.
Fluid for the eradication of wood boring insects can be applied to the bare wood. Kiwicare no borer fluid gives deep penetration of timber and protection from further attack for up to 10 years.
It is also advisable to inject all borer flight holes in the painted surfaces of the timbers. Kiwicare no borer injector is an aerosol with a nozzle for injection of the holes; fluid is forced through the labyrinths killing any borer within and protecting from egg laying beetles.
For areas that are not accessible for treatment of timber directly, fumigation using no bugs borafume can be used to control borer beetles during their flight season (Oct-Mar) and reduce re-infestation by egg laying females.

You might be interested in reading: Checking for asbestos in your home.

 

This home renovation advice by David Brittainn article featured on page 35 in Issue 018 of Renovate Magazine. Renovate Magazine is an easy to use resource providing fresh inspiration and motivation at every turn of the page.

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*All information is believed to be true at time of publishing and is subject to change.