We've had a number of threads here on home improvement projects and mold. While working on my basement, I have easy access to the rim joist, mud sill, and all the new wood I'll be installing below grade. I (over-) researched the issue and came upon some products for preventing mold and termites. Comments and critiques are solicited.
This BoraCare with Mold Care stuff penetrates into the wood and makes it termite proof. Forever. No re-treatments, etc. In fact, if you spray it on masonry the little devils won't even build their mud-tunnels over it. I'm treating the mud-sill and rim joist, so there will be an anti-termite cordon all around the house isolating the wood from the ground. The chemical that repels/poisons the termites is borate, which is very safe stuff. The anti-mold chemical is something else, much more akin to a regular pesticide. You mix both chemicals with water and one gallon of the concentrate (and a few ounces of the anti-mold stuff) makes enough brew to treat over 300 linear feet of 2x8 lumber. The mix has surfactants and other stuff to help it penetrate, so you only need access to one side of the wood. I'm applying it now (with a regular pump sprayer) and it is going fine, if a little messy. It's not cheap (about $120/gallon), but it goes a long way.
Here's another product of a similar kind (BoraSol PC-Plus). It is a lot less expensive (about 1/4th the price), but I preferred the mold prevention chemical in the more expensive product to the carbamate-based chemical in the cheaper one.
Anyway, these products seem to be a good buy if they keep the termites from eating your home and can prevent mold. Of course, the only effective way to truly prevent mold long term is to keep everything dry, but "water happens" and having something like this in the wood already if you have minor flooding or a burst pipe may keep the mold at bay for a week or so while you dry things out.
This BoraCare with Mold Care stuff penetrates into the wood and makes it termite proof. Forever. No re-treatments, etc. In fact, if you spray it on masonry the little devils won't even build their mud-tunnels over it. I'm treating the mud-sill and rim joist, so there will be an anti-termite cordon all around the house isolating the wood from the ground. The chemical that repels/poisons the termites is borate, which is very safe stuff. The anti-mold chemical is something else, much more akin to a regular pesticide. You mix both chemicals with water and one gallon of the concentrate (and a few ounces of the anti-mold stuff) makes enough brew to treat over 300 linear feet of 2x8 lumber. The mix has surfactants and other stuff to help it penetrate, so you only need access to one side of the wood. I'm applying it now (with a regular pump sprayer) and it is going fine, if a little messy. It's not cheap (about $120/gallon), but it goes a long way.
Here's another product of a similar kind (BoraSol PC-Plus). It is a lot less expensive (about 1/4th the price), but I preferred the mold prevention chemical in the more expensive product to the carbamate-based chemical in the cheaper one.
Anyway, these products seem to be a good buy if they keep the termites from eating your home and can prevent mold. Of course, the only effective way to truly prevent mold long term is to keep everything dry, but "water happens" and having something like this in the wood already if you have minor flooding or a burst pipe may keep the mold at bay for a week or so while you dry things out.
It may be the only place in the world you could get away with that.
