Thread: Timber beautifier / preservative / termite deterrent?

Termites! if they really want it they will get it, and that oregon, well they are saying look fellas there's dinner up there. They will sacrifice their fellow mates to get through any chemical barrier to eat what they want.

Well, yes, but bulldozing the whole place and rebuilding it out of steel isn't an option at this time. Painting the verandah with something to pretty it up is, and in the not-so-distant past the product of choice would have been creosote.

What I'd really like to know is what would be the product of choice today?

I think you will find that anything toxic enough to get rid of white ants, may also have a similar effect on you. Even creo. is pretty hard to live with inside. Would be best to find the nest and treat that. Asked a mate once, who is a pest exterminator, whats the best way to get rid of white ants in a house. His answer: A match!

I've had the pest inspectors in, there is no current termite activity, there is no nest. Nothing to treat.

I have a bunch of discoloured, exterior timber that I want to stain for aesthetic reasons. It also seems not that wild and crazy to try and find a product that has some sort of protective, preservative effect on the remaining wood.

I realise that creosote was probably responsible for the deaths of millions, my question is what have they replaced it with. Thanks.

Hi Dave, you ask what has creoste been replaced with?

as far as I know there is no replacement product -- you can get timber treated with a similarily effective chemical, but the chemical needs to be applied under pressure, which means in a factory


Aesthetic considerations? --- decking oil could be an option

Originally Posted by Dusty Dave

I've had the pest inspectors in, there is no current termite activity, there is no nest. Nothing to treat.

Sounds like you place a lot of faith in the report of the pest extermintor 'expert'. I hope it's justified. Wouldn't be the first to fail to notice (or maybe even intentionally fail to report) termites travelling through the centre of stumps or poles, and with those redgum poles set into the ground....

I have a bunch of discoloured, exterior timber that I want to stain for aesthetic reasons.

Oxalic Acid is prolly best for the stain removal. Using a finishing product directly over the water stains could well make it worse rather than better. It'd be best to try remove the stains and THEN use a more protective finish. If your hardware store fella scratches his head at the term 'Oxalic Acid' then try asking for 'wood bleach'.

Thanks Ian, you might be right. In the UK there is a commonly-available substitute called Creocote, I'm at a loss to explain why no such substitute is readily available here, it seems like such a basic thing.

I'm looking into the various suppliers listed on the 'Timber Preservers Association of Australia' website, it looks like there may be some alternatives available but they aren't obvious. I'll report back if I find anything interesting.


Catweazle, I really don't know what you are proposing I do regarding the termites. Set fire to the house and build another one? Move to Sweden? I hired a professional and we're confident there is no current termite activity to treat (surely if he could have charged me for a treatment he would have done). All I can do is monitor the house for any new signs and if I see them, get him back in to powder the place and kill off the nest (which is presumably what the last owners did). If you have any better ideas that don't involve bulldozers or arson then please share them.

Thanks for the oxalic acid tip, I have used it before and it would certainly do a nicer job, but its a rough sawn old thing and I really can't be bothered scrubbing every inch of it. If I can find nothing else I'll just paint an exterior stain over everything, but I'm confident I'll find something more suitable than that.

Creocoat is not suitable for interior application.
As you seem to have no present white ant activity, it may be a good idea to set up a bait station, so you will be the first to know when the little buggers come back.
I dont know of any paint-on product that will protect against white ant attack as they are sub surface travellers anyway. White ants are a common problem in our area and the bait station strategy seems to work well and has become a popular tool for the local pest guys.

Originally Posted by Dusty Dave

I've had the pest inspectors in, there is no current termite activity, there is no nest. Nothing to treat.

Originally Posted by Dusty Dave

I hired a professional and we're confident there is no current termite activity to treat (surely if he could have charged me for a treatment he would have done).

I hope your inpectors are better than those engaged by a friend of mine who owns a bit of commercial property.

1st of the month he gets a pest report -- no termites, no evidence of termite activity
7 days later the tennant complains of termites -- the subsequent investigation finds substantial termite damage to the structure.

The upshot? the termite inspection service says words to the effect "our inspector didn't see anything during his inspection, it's not the fault of us or our inspector [who may not even have visited the premises] that active termites were not detected"


if you long term plans are to rebuild, maybe your best option is to continually monitor for termite activity, and dust the blighters when they show up

Sold a property recently and the purchaser had organised, through his solicitor, to have both a "professional" building inspection and pest inspection. The pest "inspector" came in with a broom handle and tapped along the skirting board and that was it. I can only presume that what I thought was a broom handle, was in fact a majic wand

Someone on these forums gave me the name of a creosote substitute. It is called PROTECTEX and should be available through hardware stores.
It does not seem to soak in the same way creosote does and I can't tell you if it works only that it's working so far.
Cheers,
Jim
ps I doubt that it would qualify as a beautifier