Dear James: We have problems with insect damage in our area. When doing a major remodeling project, should we treat all the lumber with spray-on borate chemicals for protection? Borate chemicals ...

Question: We are building a room addition to our house. We have had termite damage in the past, so we want to treat all the lumber ourselves, if possible. Are spray-on borate chemicals a good choice?

Dear Jamie: Stopping insects before they enter your house is always better than trying to treat an infestation once it is established. Insects can cause direct structural damage or increase the wood’s ...