treating studs with a preservative - how long till dry for drywall?

newbpainter

I wanted to redo the drywall so I tore it down and noticed some termite mud tunnels. I figure now is the time to treat the walls with a preservative and insecticide. (until we get the professionals out here to fumigate) I'm using a homemade concoction of boric acid, borax, propylene glycol(so it penetrates in the wood) and water. How long after I apply will it be ok to hang the sheetrock? I live in southern california. It was hot(90s) earlier last week but now its in the 60-70s.

Daniel Holzman

This is a little puzzling. You want to treat the wood yourself, then cover the studs up with sheetrock, then have the professionals back in to treat the wood again? Why not leave the sheetrock off until the professionals finish their job, it will save you the need to have the pros drill holes in your sheetrock to fumigate.

newbpainter

Stuff gets puzzling when money and time aren't factored in the things we do. We just don't have the money right now to hire a professional to fumigate. (quotes are $1,000+) I'll be treating the studs because now that I see the termites, I just can't put drywall over them and let it go. (the termites seem to be localized to certain exterior wall) Treating the wood is inexpensive, fairly easy and I know it will work on the structure that's treated. Maybe a year or two from know when we have the money we'll hire someone to fumigate the whole house. But until then, we have two rooms to finish and bills to pay.


Any advice on dry time would be appreciated.

Ron6519

I would wait a week if the humidity were low. Ten days if it's high. Check with a moisture meter to be sure.
Ron