Comments on: Renovating beams and Woodwork

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:52:20 +0000

We ae in the process of having our beams treated.
The men have drilled a hole at the end of each beam where it meets the wall (because he said that’s where they will enter the wood) and have put a little plastic thing in which they are going to inject something ( permethrine 0.51% m/m) they are then going to scrape the infected wood away an treat all the wood with a gel.
He said it’s safe and that there is no odour and that will be able to sleep in the bedroom after it has been done. The men have just said that the windows must be left open for at least half an hour before I can go in. Is all this right.

By: info

info — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:40:01 +0000

I would also be concerned. We had the same issue, but it stopped within a year or so as the beetles came to the surface and died. Probably there is not a problem – they can survive in the timber for several years before coming to the surface (and hopefully the poison) but perhaps you should have it further treated by injection if it is still persisting.

By: info

info — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:37:26 +0000

That’s interesting (and shocking!) A lot of the oak trees around here are infested by a type of capricorn beetle and die as a result, but I’m surprised someone would build a roof from an infected tree.

By: john scott

john scott — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:15:11 +0000

We have just completed a brand new total renovation of a barn on our property in the Midi. All the oak was supplied “as new” (Think its called green oak) and we were told it had been treated. Within a few weeks of moving in, there is a fine dust on our furniture and there are oval holes in some of these beams. We are told that it is Capricorne Beetle and the Barn will have to be vacated for 10 days while it is treated. So much for new oak!

By: Nick Parsons

Nick Parsons — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:31:02 +0000

I wonder if you can help – maybe the response is as the one already posted above. We had 2 or 3 beams replaced in an old farmhouse and immediately coated these new beams with Xylophene ( as you described – not nice stuff). But we started hearing a munching noise. We mentioned it to the charpentier who had fitted the beams – and he implied it was nothing to worry about – implying it was not Carpricorn,/House Beetle but something else. 2 years on and after several surface sprayings with Xylophene some are still there and quite a few – is it flight/exit oval/round holes (5-10mm )- have appeared. We have also tried a CAF Fumigateur which did not have any effect. Any other thoughts – the munching is driving us crazy in the evenin and of course we are concerned that it spreads!

By: info

info — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:02:12 +0000

I would use a mix of linseed oil (huile de lin), 1 part turpentine (terebenthine) and a small amount of drying agent (siccatif) which helps the oil ’set’ – as mentioned at the end of the article about colombage at http://www.france-renovation.com/restoring-colombage/15

By: Leslye Woodard

Leslye Woodard — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:13:59 +0000

We are looking at using some of our wood oak beams as upright posts for our porch outside. What type of finish would be the best for the moisture and ultraviolet rays to prevent deterioration? How do we finish them inside – they’re decorative only – to bring out the color and not gray? We are sandblasting them but not sure what to use for a finish.

By: info

info — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:21:49 +0000

We have never varnished treated beams – partly from personal choice and partly because it will make future treatment and maintenance more complicated if the treatment ever needs to be reapplied.

But ours are more structural than decorative, and there are too many to varnish even if we wanted to.

I think that varnish might not be a bad idea in a ‘room’ environment, although not at all essential.

By: Julie Bennett

Julie Bennett — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:21:48 +0000

Hi there,

We are in the renovation process and have just had our 3 250 year old charpentes sand blasted and have treated them with a product like Xylophene. My question is this – do you recommend now treating them with any other kind of product. Our charpentier is recommending varnish – which we’re not sure about. We have also had our roof rebuilt, so all of the ridge beams and the chevrons have been replaced. He also said they would start to yellow fairly quickly if they weren’t treated – not sure at this point if he meant Xylophene or varnish.

By: info

info — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:31:56 +0000

Good question. If the beams are sprayed the ‘munching’ can continue for many months. The treatment only affects the surface few millimetres, so when the capricorn reaches the surface it takes effect…but capricorn can take several years to get there!
In our barn we started with about 4 obvious ‘munching’ points – after three years it’s down to just 1 place.
You could try localised injection treatment where the noise is coming from, or just sit it out..