| Log Home BorateTreatments - the options and how | | | | Impel Rods are a highly concentrated solid form, |
| and when to use! | | | | water diffusible borate rod. They are ideal for both |
| One of the most important ways to protect your | | | | preventative treatments of high risk areas and |
| investment, your home, is to use a wood | | | | remedial treatments in areas with existing decay. |
| preservative on your logs. There are only two times | | | | Because Impel Rods stop decay when properly used, |
| that you can effectively use these products on your | | | | there is no need to replace decay damaged, yet |
| logs. When the home is built, before it is stained, or | | | | structurally sound logs! Decay prone and rot hot spot |
| after cob blasting a finish off of your logs, before | | | | areas at greatest risk include: base logs, corner |
| you re-stain. The wood preservative must be applied | | | | construction, exposed rafters or overhangs, and |
| to raw wood, so it can soak in and dry underneath | | | | below windows, doors, and dormers. |
| the stain. | | | | Impel Rods depend on moisture to work. When |
| All wood faces the possibility of rot and insect | | | | moisture contents of wood reach levels suitable for |
| infestation, even in dry climates. Fungi and insects | | | | decay attack, i.e. (around 25 percent) Impel Rods |
| actually consume the cells of dead wood, often | | | | slowly dissolve and begin to diffuse throughout the |
| causing severe structural damage that often requires | | | | moisture saturated wood. The preservative will |
| log replacement-a costly repair. We use Penetreat to | | | | migrate into the areas of highest moisture, which are |
| help protect your home from costly damage of rot | | | | at the highest risk from fungal decay. The diffused |
| and insect infestation. Penetreat is a borate based | | | | Impel Rod will adequately and effectively prevent the |
| wood preservative. Borates are well known across | | | | wood from rotting and decaying because it will not |
| the world for their protective qualities. Penetreat | | | | allow the fungus that causes rot to grow. When |
| provides a protective "shell" coating which helps | | | | moisture levels drop below 25 percent, the |
| defend your home against dry, wet, and brown rot, | | | | preservative becomes dormant and provides a |
| as well as termites, house borers, powder post | | | | reserve, ready to reactivate should decay conducive |
| beetles, and carpenter ants, (to name a few). | | | | conditions reoccur. We feel that Impel Rods are an |
| Borate is not toxic to people and animals. It will not | | | | essential part of the protection of your log home, |
| harm you or your pets. Borates do not affect the | | | | and include them as part of our prevention and |
| natural color or strength of wood. They are | | | | restoration system. |
| completely odorless, and are not corrosive to metal | | | | We hope this article has been helpful and look |
| fasteners, nails or screws. When a "Penetreat" home | | | | forward to giving you much more information in |
| is properly sealed against moisture, the borates can | | | | future articles to help you preserve your log home |
| provide many years of effective protective. | | | | dream! |