During a remodel a couple of years ago, I installed rigid poly-iso (the yellow stuff) insulation board over the tops of the exterior walls because there was no room to install R-38 batts and allow a air space above the insulation. Recently, I started to notice fine yellow dust on the deck below the soffits. Upon removing a soffit panel, I found an infestation of common black house ants (not carpenter ants). The little buggers had been tunneling away in the insulation board and setting up housekeeping there.
I removed the insulation board and sprayed with pesticide. Now I need suggestions of what replace the poly-iso with. I have seen references to borate treated insulation board but have not been able to find a source for it.
Has anyone had this problem and found a solution? Location is Northern Idaho.
Replies
ESP is treated.
Joe H
Idaho Bob,
AFM R-Control expanded polystyrene (EPS) is borate-treated.
AFM Corporation, 24000 West Highway 7, Excelsior, MN 55331
800-255-0176
http://www.r-control.com
Are you sure they are what you call common black house ants? Carpenter ants come in several sizes within one nest and the look like ants and are common and black.
You have a satellite nest in your rigid insulation and need to get rid of it or they will continue to destroy the insulation and any sheathing or framing that is in the way of their expansion plans. There have been some good discussions on how to do this with recommendations for various insecticides you can find though the advanced search. Good luck.
I am pretty sure they are NOT carpenter ants. We have those here as well but the are much larger than the ants I found. All the ants in the two nests I found were the same size, betwenn 1/8" & 3/16" in length and they bite when they get on your skin.
I have pulled down the soffitts and removed all of the poly-iso insulation. Only two blocks had nests in them.
I guess my next step will be to spray with some borate compound and then replace the insulation with treated EPS.
That is encouraging news. Being able to get at the nests is a big plus. Sounds like your plan will deal with them for good. Beastly little insects.
Edited 8/29/2009 4:59 pm ET by fingersandtoes
What fingersandtoes said.
Jeff