Borate Wood Treatment vs. ProFume Fumigation

Borate-based wood preservatives are glycol-borate solutions designed for surface and internal timber treatment (roof, floor, beams, etc.). The active ingredient, boric acid, protects wood against decay, wood‐boring insects, and termites. When applied, borate penetrates wood and kills larvae feeding within. However, because borate acts by contact or ingestion, its effectiveness depends on reaching the pest—so insects hiding deep in inaccessible wood may escape treatment.

ProFume (sulfuryl fluoride) is a fumigant gas that penetrates all areas of a structure, eliminating all life stages of wood‐boring pests, including those hidden deep within wood. Fumigation with ProFume is recognised globally as a proven method for eradicating cryptic wood-borers such as drywood termites and powderpost beetles. Unlike borate treatments (spot/local), ProFume is a whole-structure solution requiring the entire building to be sealed for effective treatment.

Borate treatments are ready-to-use liquids that can be sprayed onto wood surfaces or injected into drilled holes for deeper penetration. These products are available for domestic, pest control, and industrial use, so homeowners and contractors can apply them according to the label (no special licence is usually required). After drying, treated wood can be painted or varnished.

ProFume fumigation is strictly professional: it can only be purchased and used by registered pest control operators with specialised fumigation certification. The process requires tenting/sealing the entire structure, injecting the gas, and monitoring concentrations. Only a certified fumigator may perform the service, and occupants must vacate the building during treatment and until the site is certified safe for reentry.

Product Longevity and Residual Effects

Borate’s active ingredient is non-volatile and remains within treated wood for years, providing durable, long-term protection as long as it is not leached out by water or removed physically. In most cases, a single thorough treatment offers protection for the lifespan of the timber under normal indoor conditions.

ProFume, by contrast, is a non-residual fumigant: it acts only during the fumigation process and dissipates entirely upon aeration, leaving no lasting chemical in the structure. There is no ongoing protective effect; if pests return in future, another fumigation is required.

Safety for Occupants During and After Application

Borate wood treatments are considered low in mammalian toxicity. They are colourless, odourless, non-flammable, and, once dry, pose minimal risk to people or pets if applied as directed.

ProFume is a highly toxic gas—completely odourless and colourless. Occupants, pets, and plants must be evacuated during fumigation, and only return after certified safe. ProFume leaves no odour or residue post-ventilation.

Environmental and Health Impact

Borate is not volatile, does not persist in the environment, and is moderately toxic to aquatic life, so spills must be avoided. It poses low risk if used as directed and is not an ozone-depleting substance.

ProFume (sulfuryl fluoride), on the other hand, is a potent greenhouse gas (GWP ≈ 4,780). Most of the gas used in structural fumigation is eventually released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Its use is controversial in Europe and subject to legal challenges on environmental grounds.

Guarantees and Warranties

Manufacturers do not offer product efficacy warranties beyond label claims. In practice, fumigation service providers may offer guarantees (such as a 1-year re-treatment warranty), but these are company-specific and not product warranties.

Legal and Regulatory Issues

ProFume has faced regulatory scrutiny and is now banned or not renewed in the European Union as of 2024, primarily due to environmental and toxicity concerns. In South Africa, it remains registered and in use, subject to strict regulatory controls and professional stewardship. Borate wood treatments remain widely registered and used globally with standard precautions.

Cost Considerations

Borate solutions are relatively inexpensive per litre and are cost-effective for localised or preventative treatment of timber. ProFume fumigation is a professional, whole-structure service and significantly more expensive, but it guarantees complete eradication in a single operation. For major infestations, whole-house fumigation is often the only effective option.