Carpenter Bee Paint and Stain Additives: Do They Work?
Carpenter bees drill perfectly round holes in decks, fascia, rails and log homes, and they come back to the same wood year after year. One of the easiest ways to discourage them is to mix an insect additive into the stain or paint you're already applying. Here's how the three additives we carry compare, and what to realistically expect from them.
Do Insecticide Paint Additives Work?
They help, especially as part of a plan. An additive puts an insecticide or repellent into the coating itself, so bees and other insects that land on or bore into the treated surface contact it. They work best on wood you're staining anyway, on the areas bees like most: fascia, rail caps, eaves, beams and the end grain of logs. Plug existing holes, keep bare wood coated, and expect to reapply as the coating weathers. Always follow the product label for mixing rates and use.
The Three Additives Compared
| Bug Juice | Bee Gone | Outlast NBS 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Contact insecticide that kills insects on contact | EPA-registered pyrethroid insecticide | Time-released, natural insect repellent |
| Mix into | Oil- or latex-based paints, stains and sealants | All brands of paint or stain; can also be mixed with water and sprayed | Most exterior stains and paints |
| Changes color? | No; odorless and clear, doesn't change drying time | No | See product page |
| Works with | Sikkens ProLuxe and most stains | Sikkens SRD, Log Home finishes and TWP | Most exterior coatings |
| How long | Up to 4 years, depending on exposure | See label | Time-released |
Bug Juice
Bug Juice is a contact insecticide additive for flying and crawling insects, including carpenter bees, ants, spiders and wasps. It mixes into oil- or latex-based paints, stains and sealants, is odorless and clear, and doesn't change the color or drying time of your coating. The manufacturer says it lasts up to 4 years depending on exposure.
Bee Gone
Bee Gone is an EPA-registered pyrethroid insecticide concentrate designed for exterior coatings and wooden structural surfaces on a home's exterior. Add it to a 5-gallon bucket of stain, mix it with water to spray as a perimeter or spot treatment, and use it with Sikkens SRD, log home finishes and TWP. It's for outdoor homeowner use only.
Outlast NBS 30
Outlast NBS 30 is a time-released insect repellent made with natural ingredients. It's added to most exterior stains and paints and repels a wide range of insects, including carpenter bees, ants, beetles, spiders and wasps. It's the option for anyone who prefers a repellent over an insecticide.
Which One Should I Use?
- Want a natural repellent: Outlast NBS 30.
- Want to treat a whole 5-gallon pail or spray a perimeter: Bee Gone.
- Staining smaller areas or mixing into a gallon: Bug Juice.
Does Paint Deter Carpenter Bees?
Carpenter bees prefer bare, unfinished wood, so keeping wood coated helps. A coating with an insect additive adds another layer of protection, but no finish is a guarantee. Fill existing holes, recoat on schedule, and pay extra attention to the spots bees have attacked before.
See all stain additives, or email Sales@TheStainDepot.com with questions.