Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've purchased it after getting a quote from Terminix to treat some powderpost beetle damage. It wasn't clear whether the infestation was current or an old one, but this product is great for both active infestations and preventative care. Terminix charge $.50 per square foot, so my quote was $350 (700 square feet -- a basement, and two small-ish crawlspaces). The sales guy was assuring me that I can't get this stuff anywhere on my own; I knew better, and sure enough Amazon had some. I don't know how much Terminix guys dilute when they apply; Supposedly, they apply it at 1:2 or 1:3 concentration. At that rate, I still came out ahead, having spent $90 on the chemical itself and about $40 on supplies (sprayer and disposable coveralls) to treat my 700 sq. ft. One gallon of the concentrate diluted 1:2 was barely enough for that area though. I was spraying the heaviest on the sill plate an the lightest on the overhead space between the joists. Still, at that rate, I used the 1-gallon bottle to the last drop. Some advice: Get a 2-gallon pump sprayer with a wand (such as the RoundUp brand found at a home improvement store for around $20). Get a set of disposable coveralls ($10 at the store), latex gloves and a lexan face shield (or protective goggles; A full face shield is preferable, though, since you want to protect your bare skin as well. According to the MSDS it will hurt your eyes and it *will* penetrate through your skin). To dilute, use *very warm* water (not hot, as it will most likely damage your sprayer) and shake it REALLY WELL. This stuff is like a thick maple syrup or honey, so if you don't dilute it properly, it will clog the sprayer feeder tube. If it does, use a 14-gauge solid copper wire to clear it out (on my RoundUp sprayer 14-gauge bare copper wire did the trick; Your results may vary depending on the model). Do not let it sit too long diluted in the sprayer; It will thicken, or even crystallize like other reviewers said. Spray away! Like other reviewers also noted, it WILL leave a sticky residue behind if you overspray, so cover whatever you don't want ruined with some drop cloths or tarps. Any hard surfaces, though, can be wiped down later with damp paper towels or rags. According to the data sheet, it will still work even if lumber is treated by the chemical only on three or even two sides, so don't stress about the back side of the sill plate or any other hard-to-get-to studs and joists. It will NOT work on painted or varnished lumber. All in all, Bora-Care is fairly safe and easy to apply, and it's supposed to work really well. This is a simple, inorganic compound, so there is very little smell, and it's supposed to last once applied for years and years. It will make the lumber completely inedible to termites, powder post beetles, and many other wood-boring insects. All in all, applying it myself saved me about 40% over the Terminix quote. Weigh your options, though. Depending on how heavy you might have to go, the extra 30-40 percent MAY be worth it for you to have someone else apply it. Of course, that also depends on how generously (and thoroughly) THEY apply it. Just keep my numbers in mind (1 gallon of 1:2.5 solution will treat about 400 ft2 if sprayed generously, vs. $1 per square foot when applied by Terminix; Call around for quotes from other pest control businesses, too. Beware of pushy salespeople looking to sell you plans, and telling you that the sky is falling. Large chains like doing that. Good luck!