How to protect your shed from termites?

Termite Protection for Your SolidBuild Wood Shed

SolidBuild sheds are made from natural, untreated European spruce. If you live in an area where termites are active, you may want to treat the wood to keep it protected. The process is straightforward, especially with a shed — since you can treat the boards before or during assembly, you get much better coverage than you would on an already-built structure.

Below is an overview of termite types by region, the treatment methods that work best for our sheds, product recommendations, and estimated costs for each shed model.

JUMP TO RECOMMENDED TREATMENT OPTIONS

Not All Termites Are the Same

Before you pick a treatment, it helps to know what you're up against. The United States is home to several species of termites, and the type that's most common in your area will determine the best course of action. Here are the main ones to know about:

Subterranean Termites

These are by far the most common and destructive type in the U.S. They live underground in large colonies and build mud tubes — small tunnels made of soil and saliva — to travel from the ground into wood structures. If your shed sits on or near the ground, subterranean termites can reach it through its foundation.

Where they're found: Every state except Alaska. Most active in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern states, but present throughout the Midwest and even parts of the Northeast.

Why they matter for your shed: SolidBuild sheds sit on a foundation, and the connection between the foundation and the first row of wall boards (the starter row) is the most vulnerable point. These termites attack from the ground up, so your foundation choice and the treatment of the lowest boards are critical.

Drywood Termites

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don't need contact with the soil. They fly in, land on exposed wood, and set up colonies inside the wood itself. They're smaller colonies but can be harder to detect because there are no mud tubes — the first sign is usually small piles of tiny pellets (called frass) near the infested wood.

Where they're found: Southern coastal states, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast, and into Southern California. They're especially common in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and the coastal areas of California.

Why they matter for your shed: Because they attack from the air, a ground-level soil treatment won't stop them. You need to treat the wood itself. This is where borate wood treatments really shine, and it's a big reason we recommend them so highly for sheds in drywood territory.

Formosan Termites

These are sometimes called "super termites," and the nickname is well-earned. They're a subterranean species, but their colonies can contain millions of individuals — far more than native subterranean termites. They eat wood faster, cause damage sooner, and can even build secondary nests above ground inside walls if there's enough moisture. A mature Formosan colony can consume roughly 13 ounces of wood per day.

Where they're found: Primarily along the Gulf Coast — Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida — as well as Hawaii, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and parts of California. They are rarely found north of about 35°N latitude.

Why they matter for your shed: If you live in Formosan territory, you need the most aggressive protection available. A borate wood treatment combined with a perimeter soil treatment or bait stations is the recommended approach. Don't skip it.

Dampwood Termites

These guys are attracted to wood with high moisture content — think rotting logs, leaky structures, or wood sitting directly on damp soil. They're larger than other species but are less of a threat to well-maintained structures.

Where they're found: Pacific coastal states (Washington, Oregon, Northern California), parts of the desert Southwest, and Southern Florida.

Why they matter for your shed: If you keep your shed on a proper foundation and off the ground (which we always recommend), dampwood termites are the least of your worries. That said, if you're in a wet climate, make sure there's good drainage around your shed site and that no wood is in direct contact with soil or standing water.

Termite Risk by Region: Where Do You Fall?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development divides the country into Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) zones. This matters because it affects everything from the treatment you should choose to whether your local building department has specific termite requirements for outbuildings. Here's the breakdown:

Very Heavy (Zone 1) — FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, SC, HI, Southern CA
Primary termite types: Subterranean, Drywood, Formosan
Recommended protection: Borate wood treatment + soil barrier or bait stations

Heavy to Moderate (Zone 2) — NC, VA, TN, AR, OK, MO, KS, AZ, NM, Northern CA
Primary termite types: Subterranean, some Drywood in coastal areas
Recommended protection: Borate wood treatment + optional soil barrier

Moderate to Slight (Zone 3) — NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL, IA, NE, CO, UT, OR, WA
Primary termite types: Subterranean (seasonal)
Recommended protection: Borate wood treatment (minimum recommended)

Slight to None (Zone 4) — ME, VT, NH, NY, MI, WI, MN, ND, SD, MT, WY, ID, AK
Primary termite types: Minimal termite activity
Recommended protection: Borate treatment optional but still wise for longevity

Tip: Even if you're in a low-risk zone, a borate wood treatment is still worth considering. It protects against not just termites but also carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, and wood decay fungi — all of which can affect a wood shed anywhere in the country.

Treatment Methods for SolidBuild Sheds

Now for the practical part: how to actually protect your shed. We're going to focus on the methods that make the most sense for a SolidBuild wood shed kit, considering that you're working with a manageable structure that can be treated during or shortly after assembly.

Method 1: Borate Wood Treatment (Best Overall for Sheds)

This is our number one recommendation for every SolidBuild shed, regardless of where you live. Borate treatments are applied directly to the wood surface, where the active ingredient — a naturally occurring mineral salt called disodium octaborate tetrahydrate — penetrates deep into the wood fibers. Once inside the wood, it stays there permanently (as long as the wood isn't exposed to continuous rain or ground contact), making the wood toxic to termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, and decay fungi.

Here's why borate treatment is perfect for a shed kit:

You can treat all the wall boards, floor boards, and roof boards before or during assembly, giving you complete coverage that's nearly impossible to achieve on an already-built structure.
Borate is a mineral salt, not a synthetic chemical — it's low-toxicity to humans and pets, making it safe to use in sheds you'll spend time in, like home offices, art studios, or she-sheds.
It doesn't break down over time like soil chemicals do — it lasts for the life of the wood.
It protects against both subterranean and drywood termites, which means you're covered no matter what species is in your area.
It won't stain or discolor the wood, and you can paint or stain over it once it's dry.

Important: Borate treatments can only be applied to bare, unfinished wood. If you plan to stain or paint your shed (which we recommend for weather protection), apply the borate treatment first, let it dry for at least 48 hours, and then apply your stain or paint. The stain or paint actually helps seal the borate into the wood and protects it from being washed out by rain.

Difficulty level: easy — you can do it yourself with a pump sprayer

Cost: $50–$200 depending on your shed size and product choice (detailed cost estimates below)

Recommended Borate Products

Bora-Care by Nisus Corporation — This is the gold standard in borate wood treatment. It's a professional-grade concentrated liquid that you mix with water and apply with a sprayer or brush. Bora-Care uses a patented glycol formulation that penetrates deeper into wood than powder-based borates. One gallon of concentrate (mixed at 1:1 ratio with warm water) covers approximately 400–800 square feet depending on wood porosity. It's EPA-registered as a primary termite treatment and is the only borate product backed by a 30-year limited warranty (through participating pest control companies). A gallon of concentrate runs about $75–$95 at most pest control supply retailers.

Tim-Bor Professional by Nisus — A more budget-friendly option. Tim-Bor is a water-soluble borate powder that you mix with water to create a 10–15% solution. It's effective on bare wood but doesn't penetrate as deeply as Bora-Care because it lacks the glycol carrier. Best suited for preventative treatment on new, dry wood (which is exactly what SolidBuild shed boards are). A 1.5-pound packet makes about 1.5 gallons of solution and covers roughly 240 square feet of surface. Cost is around $15–$25 per bag.

Eco-Safe Wood Guard by Tall Earth — A ready-to-use borate treatment marketed specifically for DIY use on sheds, barns, log homes, and garden structures. Non-toxic, simple to apply, and works well as a one-time preventative treatment. A good option if you want something straightforward without mixing. Runs about $50 for a one-gallon container.

Method 2: Liquid Soil Treatment (Perimeter Barrier)

A liquid soil treatment creates a chemical barrier in the ground around your shed's foundation. Termites that try to tunnel through the treated soil are either killed or repelled. This method is specifically designed to stop subterranean and Formosan termites, which travel through the ground to reach wood.

For a SolidBuild shed, a perimeter treatment is a great complement to a borate wood treatment, especially if you're in a high-risk area (Zone 1 or Zone 2 on the TIP map). You'd dig a shallow trench around the perimeter of your shed's foundation, apply the liquid termiticide, and backfill.

The industry-leading product is Termidor (fipronil), which is used by most professional pest control companies. Termidor works through a "transfer effect" — termites that contact the treated soil carry the chemical back to their colony, spreading it to other termites. Studies show that a single Termidor treatment can last 5 to 15 years depending on soil conditions.

However, Termidor is only available to licensed pest control professionals. If you want a DIY option, products like Taurus SC (which contains the same active ingredient, fipronil) are available to homeowners and work the same way.

Difficulty level: moderate — requires digging a trench around the foundation

Cost: $50–$150 for DIY (one bottle of Taurus SC treats a large perimeter). Professional application for a shed-sized structure typically runs $200–$500.

Best for:

Subterranean and Formosan termites
Sheds in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas
Low-profile foundations close to the ground

Not suitable for:

Drywood termites (they don't come through the soil)
Sheds near wells or water sources (check product label for setback requirements)

Method 3: Termite Bait Stations (Monitoring + Colony Elimination)

Bait stations are plastic cylinders buried in the ground around the perimeter of a structure. They contain a wood-like material treated with a slow-acting insect growth regulator (such as novaluron or hexaflumuron) that termites consume and carry back to their colony. Over time, this disrupts the termites' ability to molt, and the colony dies off.

The two best-known professional systems are:

Sentricon — Uses noviflumuron in the "Always Active" version. Developed by Dow, it's been around for over 25 years and was famously used to protect the White House and the Statue of Liberty. Sentricon is typically installed and maintained by licensed professionals only. Annual cost for a home runs $800–$1,500 for installation plus $200–$400 per year for monitoring.
Trelona ATBS by BASF — Uses novaluron, a newer chitin synthesis inhibitor. The "Annual" version only requires checking once per year. Available through DIY retailers for homeowners who want to install their own system. A box of 16 pre-baited stations (enough for a standard home perimeter) runs about $350–$450. For a shed, you'd need far fewer — probably 4–8 stations.

Best for:

Subterranean and Formosan termites
Ongoing monitoring in high-risk areas

Not suitable for:

Drywood termites (they don't forage through the soil)

Difficulty level: easy to moderate (DIY options available)

Cost for a shed: $80–$200 for a DIY installation of 4–8 stations

Tip: Bait stations are an excellent "second layer" of defense but shouldn't be your only protection. We recommend them as a complement to borate wood treatment, not a replacement for it.

Estimated Treatment Costs by Shed Model

One of the best things about treating a shed versus a full-size home is the cost. You're working with a much smaller footprint, and the wood is accessible (especially if you treat before or during assembly). Here are realistic cost estimates for treating each of our shed models. Surface area estimates include walls, floor, and roof boards (both interior and exterior surfaces where accessible).

Shiba 8 x 8 storage shed | 54 sq ft

Approximate treatable wood surface: ~350 sq ft

Bora-Care (1:1 mix): $75–$95 (1 gallon concentrate is sufficient)

Tim-Bor: $15–$25

DIY soil treatment: $50–$75

DIY bait stations (4–6): $80–$120

Myrtle 10 x 10 garden shed | 80 sq ft

Approximate treatable wood surface: ~500 sq ft

Bora-Care (1:1 mix): $75–$95

Tim-Bor: $25–$40

DIY soil treatment: $50–$100

DIY bait stations (4–6): $100–$150

Whales 10 x 10 garden shed | 80 sq ft

Approximate treatable wood surface: ~500 sq ft

Bora-Care (1:1 mix): $75–$95

Tim-Bor: $25–$40

DIY soil treatment: $50–$100

DIY bait stations (4–6): $100–$150

Moderna 10 x 10 modern shed | 80 sq ft

Approximate treatable wood surface: ~500 sq ft

Bora-Care (1:1 mix): $75–$95

Tim-Bor: $25–$40

DIY soil treatment: $50–$100

DIY bait stations (4–6): $100–$150

Gardener 10 x 10 storage shed | 81 sq ft

Approximate treatable wood surface: ~510 sq ft

Bora-Care (1:1 mix): $75–$95

Tim-Bor: $25–$40

DIY soil treatment: $50–$100

DIY bait stations (4–6): $100–$150