Hi Kim
I would not rely on a borate-based treatment alone. I ship log home shells (not kiln-dried) in shipping containers from NZ to the US. The problem we have to avoid is surface mold -- not decay, not sapstain (bluestain).
After having tried a couple products (one was a big failure), and getting professional advice, we now use a Osmose product called "CleanWood" to stop surface mold. It has been working flawlessly for us for 4 years--we ship green logs, closed in a box, on a slow boat across the equator. Those are ideal conditions for surface mold.
Do a Google search, try "clean wood" or "cleanwood" combined with "Osmose". The product shows up on the Osmose Australian webpage, not their US webpage.
Pesticide--we don't apply any. We are required to fumigate after logs are loaded into the shipping containers (methyl bromide). We have no choice on this--it is required by phytosanitary rules of NZ and the USA. It does work--it kills every living thing in the box. We are not alowed to substitute chemicals to kill bugs--it must be methyl bromide. (And we must certify its concentration, and the ambient temperature at time of dosing).
If you are a first-time shipper, be sure to check Indonesian import rules for wood products. Softwoods are often regulated by different rules than hardwoods. Some species get their own special rules. If you get it wrong, your container will not pass inspection. As it sits at the foreign port waiting for you to solve the problem you will be charged "demurrage" -- which is storage of container. Some ports charge USD$100 per day for demurrage.
Best
Robert
