Posts Tagged ‘wood boring insects in log buildings’

Log Home Restoration – Info on insects

carpenter ants

Carpenter ants

The log home restoration business in Wisconsin and Minnesota puts us in contact with many different kinds of log homes and consequently, many different insects.

Recently through Wisconsin Public Radio and the University of Wisconsin, I came across this link to Insect ID. Click here.

I found that this page and site had allot of good information for the log home owner, whether it had to do with wood boring insects or pest-type insects that are typically found in log cabins. The presence of these insects is sometimes an indicator that you may be in need of log home restorations services.

Below are some resources from our site that might also help with info specifically related to log structures.

RELATED LINKS AND MORE TIPS ON LOG HOME RESTORATION:

Can Borates help prevent infestations

Why do insects infest our log homes?

My logs are infested with bugs. What can I do?

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Posted in Common Problems, Insects and Log Homes/Cabins, Log Home Restoration |
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Log home repair – how to check for rot

Log home repair starts with knowing when you actually NEED repair. Here are some tips for discovering if you have rot in your logs that needs attention.

finish buildup

Notice the grayed log compared to the surrounding logs. Rot!

Tapping on the logs is a simple and effective method of discovery. It is not 100% accurate but it is definitely worth doing. Use a hammer and tap on logs that you suspect may have some rot. Are they darker or grayed compared to surrounding logs? Are there lots of checks or cracks in the log that make it look suspicious? Are there small holes in the logs, which may be an indicator of boring insects (a sign of carpenter ants or powderpost beetles. Find out more…)

problems with insectsIf the sound you hear when tapping these suspect areas sounds different than when you tap on logs that look “healthy”, it may be an indicator that there is rot. To really do a thorough check by tapping, it will require a ladder to get to higher areas. If this is not possible for you to do yourself, it is worth getting someone who is comfortable with heights to get up there and do it for you. Rot can take hold underneath windows and underneath decks so be sure to inspect these areas regularly. (more…)

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Posted in Log Home Maintenance, Log Home Repair, Log Homes and Rot |
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Log homes and wood boring insects

Here is a related question from our previous posting.

Question: I need to get wood-boring beetles and carpenter bees stopped. No serious structural damage yet but the insect problem needs to be addressed. I am the original owner of the home. It was built in 1985 out of southern yellow pine. It was a kit supplied by Real Log Homes out of North Carolina. It was last cob-blasted, borated and sealed in 2004. Borate applied at that time did not stop insects. Need help to get insect damage stopped and house resealed.

Notice the honey combing that the ants do as they "excavate the rot". Until you get rid of the rot, you can't control the population of boring insects.

Answer: What we know about carpenter bees and powder post beetles is that they feed on decaying wood. Therefore, they often are a sign that the logs are retaining moisture and that there is some rot. Borate treatment is not a guarantee against these insects. It isn’t a pesticide but more of a treatment for the logs to raise the PH level of the wood to the point where the rot organism is impeded, and subsequently the bugs are less able to attack it. Click here for more information about insects in log homes. (more…)

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Posted in Insects and Log Homes/Cabins, Questions and Answers |
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Covering up rotten logs – good or bad idea?

Question: I have a home where the floor beams rotted. I ground off as much of the rot as I could and then I treated them heavily with a borate solution. Next, I sprayed foam insulation over them to seal them off. Do I need to be concerned that they will continue to rot despite my efforts?

Answer: Rot is all about moisture. Sometimes when it comes to the practicalities of doing repairs like yours, one has to leave some rot.  The most important thing to its longevity is to keep that area as dry as possible.  So… it sounds like you are on the right track.  The only thing you might find is that some of the rotted areas could attract carpenter ants and/or powder post beetles.  The borate treatment you used might help this but if the wood boring insects get really annoying, then you need to have an exterminator come in and treat these areas as well.  Good luck.

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Posted in Common Problems, Insects and Log Homes/Cabins, Questions and Answers |
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Log homes can have problems with wood boring insects

Carpenter ants present

We have been getting lots of calls from people who are concerned about the tiny holes they see in their logs. It’s that time of year when bugs can become a major concern for a log home owner. Boring insects are a common problem that we see in log homes and cabins. The boring insects that we have in the Midwest are commonly the carpenter ant/bee and the powderpost beetle. These insects bore into your home leaving in their path small holes in the logs and a bit of dust. They feed on deteriorating wood so this really makes them a symptom more than a problem in and of themselves.

The most common insect in log homes is the carpenter ant. The carpenter ant infests wood that is rotting, although they do not cause the rot. The holes these carpenter ants bore are about ¼” in diameter or the size of a pencil.

Powderpost beetle holes are smaller than those made by carpenter ants

Powderpost beetles are also common in log homes but they don’t generally do structural damage and are most times not the best indicator of rotting wood. Their holes are the size of a pencil lead. Neither of these insects do structural damage to the logs themselves but carpenter ants may be a warning sign to you that your logs are getting wet or have some rot in them. (more…)

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Posted in Insects and Log Homes/Cabins |
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