5 Questions with Lee Barrett

1. When you think of Bora-Care, what comes to your mind?

In a single word: Longevity. Bora-Care is a product that just works! It has stood the test of time and its popularity just keeps growing. As a preventative termite treatment, it cannot be beat — long-term protection for the home, better for the environment and easy to apply. Just consider that years ago we had such confidence in our product and the well trained applicators that we offered an unheard-of 5-year damage repair warranty for new homes. Based on negligible claims, we moved to a 12-year warranty and today we offer a full 30-year warranty!

2. Years ago many pretreaters got out of the business because the chemical alone cost more than they could charge for the treatment. What has changed?

We showed companies how termite preventative work could become a revenue generator by creating annual revenue from termite renewals and selling the general pest service on those new homes. And for those companies with lawn or other ancillary services, new business from preventative treatments and the associated renewals can feed all their divisions. Builders love the idea that they don’t have to shut down a construction site for a day while product is applied.

3. In what other ways is Bora-Care used?

Well, it has always been a great remedial product for subterranean and drywood termites as well as wood-destroying beetles. When a remedial termite job is done, all the new wood and all adjoining wood should be treated. Pheromones in termite tunnels can remain attractive for five years. So, when new termites find the “scent,” it can lead them right back to where they were before. Since the active in Bora-Care is a borate mineral salt, it does not break down over time. That means long-term protection for your customers. It is also the only type of treatment that prevents wood- destroying beetles and wood decay at the same time.

4. Drywood termites are also a growing market for Bora-Care. What does that mean for PMPs?

Bora-Care has become the “No Tent” drywood treatment. In California, for example, a lot of PMPs will treat the entire structure with Bora-Care after a fumigation. Since a fumigation provides no residual protection, PMPs will go in and inject all the walls in the home with a Bora-Care mist or a dry foam and then spray all accessible wood like attics and garages. The cost is similar to a fumigation, but the pest company receives all the revenue. In fact, many multi-family developments will choose the Bora-Care treatment over fumigation because there is no disruption for their tenants and no need to remove belongings, plants and pets. There is also no need to bag food, and property owners do not have to provide alternative housing.

5. How does Bora-Care with Mold-Care fit into the picture?

Bora-Care with Mold-Care is heavily used after flooding or heavy rain events to protect wood in structures from mold and wood decay. In new construction, some builders treat the wet walls (walls where plumbing is located). Other builders are doing whole house treatments to protect all structural wood. It’s a one-two punch of Bora-Care plus a mold prevention product. This is done via a 2-foot band treatment with Bora-Care at a 1:1 dilution while the rest of the structure is treated using Bora-Care with Mold-Care at 5:1. The ultimate protection, being used by some custom builders and builders in the areas with Formosan termites, is treating the entire structure with Bora-Care 1-2-3: 1 gallon Bora-Care, 2 gallons Bora-Care with Mold-Care, and 3 gallons water. This gives you full termite protection and mold protection on the whole structure. It is also a great way to protect a house from Formosan termites, which in many cases do not require any contact with the soil.