A fungicide is a pesticide that kills fungi. Use boric acid as a fungicide in your home environment to stop the growth of fungus in wood and in your swimming pool or spa to prevent contamination.
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Fungi
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Rose Mill Co. advises that fungi are plants that contain no chlorophyll and as a result cannot make their own food. They require air, warmth moisture and food--such as the cellulose and lignin contained in wood--to grow.
Dry Rot
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According to Jack DeAngelis, a retired Oregon State University entomologist: ̶0;Dry rot is a condition of wood in which fungus breaks down wood fibers and renders the wood weak and brittle. Excess moisture is the root cause of dry rot.̶1; Dry rot fungus transports water from wet areas in wood to dry areas. This creates the perfect environment for dry rot fungus to grow.
Boric Acid
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The Journal of Pesticide Reform states that boric acid or borates kill fungi by stopping the production of spores, which prevents the fungus from reproducing.
Treatment
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DeAngelis says you can treat wood with boric acid if you have a condition where moisture in the wood cannot be controlled or the fungus has already begun to grow and spread. Long Home Store advises to apply boric acid to bare wood, wait a few days and then apply a sealer to seal the borates in the wood for longer protection.
Warning
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According to DeAngelis, most forms of borate are water-soluble and will wash away with heavy rain or if the wood is immersed in water. He suggest using fused borates if you have a situation where a lot of water is present.
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