Topic: Treating a subfloor for borere

Treating a subfloor for borere 

Im looking to buy a house. The t&g flooring is riddled with borer. It has a full basement and therefore I can get easy access to almost the entirety of the underside of said flooring. So what are my options?

Re: Treating a subfloor for borere 

"Riddled with borer" sounds a bit scary to be purchasing but I'm presuming it's structurally ok. I treated some borer recently when putting in underfloor insulation.

Options are professional treatment (expensive) or off-the-shelf products which are also expensive (possibly as their only seems to be one main supplier in stores). I've often heard that kerosine and diesel mix is a borer treatment but wasn't able to verify adequately. It's a job that needs to be done well and thoroughly or it's a waste of time.

There was a strong smell of solvents in the house for a few days after I did each area. I covered the whole underfloor in foil with taped seams afterwards, in part to make access for borer more difficult. I also suggest you put in good ground sheeting as, I believe, they like good moisture content in the wood.

Re: Treating a subfloor for borere 

No, it's a full basement with concrete floor, so it's nog a matter of rising damp, it's 2m up in the air.
Of course DDT used to be the answer...so persistent! It's best point was also its downfall.
As I can get full 'walk around' access underneath I'd bd able to apply any kind of treatment.
Tar, springs to mind! Bit smelly though....

Re: Treating a subfloor for borere 

Your basement situation sounds like it might suit a few borer bombs set off each year as it's a reasonably confined space.

I never saw the point in the bombs but I understand now they haves residual effect so treating at the start of the flying season ( November-ish) will last across the on-wing period.

Re: Treating a subfloor for borere 

It got to be cheap, really cheap to take on this risk.
If it is a closed space heat could be used like 70 degrees C for several hours.
Often done in Europe with whole roof spaces in very old houses. With the fire brigade not too far away ;-))