How to Treat Wood to Repel Animals

Begin with wood that is thoroughly dry. Moisture tends to attract a host of harmful insects that not only consume wood but lay eggs in it as well. Kiln drying techniques are a common way of eliminating excessive moisture levels.

Protect the area you want to work in by putting a large tarp on the ground. Then put the wood you want to protect on it. Toxins from borate salts can seep into the ground and cause problems for vegetation and animals in the area.

Put on a pair of protective work gloves as well as eye wear and a spray mask to protect your face. Read the directions on the product label and mix the recommended amount of borate powder with the suggested amount of warm water. If you want to use the liquid form, follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding the pre-dissolved borate salt amounts.

Stir the solution thoroughly and then decant it into a pressurized deck sprayer. Spray the solution onto the wood in a thorough, even manner with your deck sprayer. Be sure to coat all sides of the wood you want to treat. Follow the manufacturer’s suggestions regarding how much solution is needed to treat a certain amount of wood. Typically, you need about 25 liters of solution to treat 50 square meters.

Use a large, absorbent brush to evenly coat all sides of the wood with the solution if you don’t want to use a deck sprayer. Let it thoroughly dry out.

Brush on wood preservative when the wood is dry. Wood preservative helps repel moisture and, consequently, helps to ward off wood-destroying pests in the future.

Apply stain or varnish on a regular basis to maintain your wood by repelling water and keeping pests at bay.