[MassHistPres] Who has seen a living powder post beetle?

[R. Christopher Noonan]

Hi Diane:

 

We have had a few projects with active powder post beetle that we needed to treat. One was an 1810 early cotton mill  within a glacial basin with high humidity that we converted into housing. Usually active creates a golden yellow fracas over the wood or on the floor below. Long term powder post beetle damage can weaken structural lumber but just as important is the new loads based on an historic building new use can overstress even a healthy historic structural timber. The loading base on code requirements are more problematic generally than powder post beetles.

 

I would also say over 40 years, most of the evidence of powder post beetle has been non-active.

 

Hope that helps.

 

R. Christopher Noonan, President

Preservation Services, Inc.

P. O. Box 18,

Mendon, MA 01756-0018

508. 473.4884

 <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/r-christopher-noonan/18/b67/9a9/> www.linkedin.com/pub/r-christopher-noonan/18/b67/9a9/

 <http://www.preserve-inc.com> www.preserve-inc.com

 

 

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From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Diane Gilbert
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2018 3:34 PM
To: MHC list <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Who has seen a living powder post beetle?

 

I have been doing an informal survey asking if anyone has actually seen a powder post beetle, alive and well and still gnawing, except in photographs perhaps.

 

Who hasn’t seen the evidence?  Most of us, if not all, involved in preservation and looking at old houses have. But active?????

 

I hear historic homeowners use the reasoning that this or that beam, rafter, post, or joist is beyond hope because of the evidence of powder post beetles.  If it’s punky and soft and turns to dust when poked, yes.  But otherwise??????

 

Any thoughts or experiences to share?

 

Thanks!

 

Diane Gilbert

President,

Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc.

(508) 965-7265

 

newly reappointed to the Dartmouth Historical Commission

 

 

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