Virginia City, Montana contains some of the best preserved examples of gold boom construction in the United States. Unfortunately, even the dry climate and fortuitous lack of fire have not prevented decay from claiming parts of the historic fabric. This project aims to determine if borates should be integrated into the preservation plan of the Montana Heritage Commission. Solutions of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) were tested in both new and historic lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in a fashion that mimics remedial treatments likely carried out in the field. DOT (available commercially as Tim-Bor Professional from Rio Tinto Mineral or Nisus Corporation) and glycol borate (DOT in a proprietary mixture of glycols including polyethylene glycol, available commercially as Bora-Care® from Nisus Corporation) solutions were tested.

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