WC

"Wayne Cattanach"

06/05/2004 8:38 AM

Barn Wood Preservation

I am in the middle of dismantling a 98 year old Hemlock barn - the intent is
to recycle the wood into a cottage - I am told that I should spray the beams
and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect against any fungus that may
have started over the history of the wood - any thought or experience with
such things would be greatly appreciated

Wayne


This topic has 7 replies

HW

Hoyt Weathers

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

06/05/2004 3:16 PM

Bob Brogan wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Wayne Cattanach wrote:
> > > I am in the middle of dismantling a 98 year old Hemlock barn - the
> > > intent is to recycle the wood into a cottage - I am told that I
> > > should spray the beams and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect
> > > against any fungus that may have started over the history of the wood
> > > - any thought or experience with such things would be greatly
> > > appreciated
> > >
> > > Wayne
> >
> > I dismantled a hundred year old barn for the siding and used it in my living
> > room. I scrubbed it pretty aggressively with a strong bleach and water
> > solution, let it dry, and then used it. It's been up for 15 years now -
> > maybe a bit more... time somehow escapes me... but I've had no fungus or bug
> > problems at all. I was just thinking as I was typing this that I may have
> > sprayed the wood with an insecticide as well as the bleach wash, but to be
> > honest - I can't remember. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do it though.
>
> Do you really want to spray that wood with something that could outgas
> over time? Especially a fungicide? If the wood is clear of any fungus,
> etc. as it sits there shouldn't be a problem so long as its kept dry.
> Fungus usually needs a moist environment as does mold, etc.
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Ham

Needing something with some distinction or uniqueness for the walls of a new large
bathroom with a Whoopee tub, gas lights, etc., I used red oak boards from a farm
fence about 50 years old. I just used a wire brush and a vacuum to clean them up. I
had the drywall painted with two coats of black latex and then used mastic and screws
to attach the boards to the walls. That turned out quite well and looks beautiful. I
did not treat them at all and have had no bug or fungus problems with them in that
moist environment.
Hoyt W.


bK

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

08/05/2004 4:02 PM

On Thu, 6 May 2004 08:38:10 -0400, "Wayne Cattanach"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am in the middle of dismantling a 98 year old Hemlock barn - the intent is
>to recycle the wood into a cottage - I am told that I should spray the beams
>and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect against any fungus that may
>have started over the history of the wood - any thought or experience with
>such things would be greatly appreciated
>
>Wayne

No thoughts on hemlock but.....good to see you dropped by Sir.
Gotcher video last year to help me through my first rod....been at it
for 20+ years now. Fun but no end in sight.<G>
You accepting emails for a few questions??

Kiyu
nonik for blocked

RR

RB

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

11/05/2004 11:46 PM

A lot of hemlock grows near me so it is cut and milled in fairly large
quantities here. It seems to be pretty easy to work with when freshly
cut, but once it has dried and aged it becomes quite brittle and is
difficult to use. Nailing old hemlock usually requires pre drilling to
prevent splitting.

RB

Andy Dingley wrote:
> On Thu, 6 May 2004 08:38:10 -0400, "Wayne Cattanach"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>I am told that I should spray the beams
>>and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect against any fungus that may
>>have started over the history of the wood
>
>
> - This isn't going to do a damned thing as a fungicide.
>
> - The air is full of spores anyway.
>
> - If you want to encourage rot fungi, give them the humidity they
> like. If you want to avoid them, keep it drier. There is nothing you
> can do with applied fungicides to stop a dry rot infestation that has
> started to grow seriously (you'd notice this). There is little that
> prophylactic fungicide treatment will do to prevent one starting. The
> only time fungicides are really worth the trouble is if you're
> treating retained wood around an infestation you've just cut out.
>
> So keep it dry, and you'll avoid trouble. Let it get damp and stay
> that way, and you're going to get rot regardless.
>

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

07/05/2004 1:14 AM

On Thu, 6 May 2004 08:38:10 -0400, "Wayne Cattanach"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am told that I should spray the beams
>and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect against any fungus that may
>have started over the history of the wood

- This isn't going to do a damned thing as a fungicide.

- The air is full of spores anyway.

- If you want to encourage rot fungi, give them the humidity they
like. If you want to avoid them, keep it drier. There is nothing you
can do with applied fungicides to stop a dry rot infestation that has
started to grow seriously (you'd notice this). There is little that
prophylactic fungicide treatment will do to prevent one starting. The
only time fungicides are really worth the trouble is if you're
treating retained wood around an infestation you've just cut out.

So keep it dry, and you'll avoid trouble. Let it get damp and stay
that way, and you're going to get rot regardless.

--
Smert' spamionam

BB

Bob Brogan

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

06/05/2004 3:39 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Wayne Cattanach wrote:
> > I am in the middle of dismantling a 98 year old Hemlock barn - the
> > intent is to recycle the wood into a cottage - I am told that I
> > should spray the beams and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect
> > against any fungus that may have started over the history of the wood
> > - any thought or experience with such things would be greatly
> > appreciated
> >
> > Wayne
>
> I dismantled a hundred year old barn for the siding and used it in my living
> room. I scrubbed it pretty aggressively with a strong bleach and water
> solution, let it dry, and then used it. It's been up for 15 years now -
> maybe a bit more... time somehow escapes me... but I've had no fungus or bug
> problems at all. I was just thinking as I was typing this that I may have
> sprayed the wood with an insecticide as well as the bleach wash, but to be
> honest - I can't remember. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do it though.

Do you really want to spray that wood with something that could outgas
over time? Especially a fungicide? If the wood is clear of any fungus,
etc. as it sits there shouldn't be a problem so long as its kept dry.
Fungus usually needs a moist environment as does mold, etc.
--
Thanks,

Ham

EJ

"Eric Johnson"

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

07/05/2004 7:18 AM

I recently completed a similar project with walnut carriage house. All we
did was carefully pressure wash the barn while it was standing to clean up
the many years of pigeon droppings and let it dry for a week after we did
that. Disassemble the building and cut off any ends etc that showed signs of
rot and brushed boiled linseed on the fresh cuts and stacked it in a machine
shed out of the weather. It'll be interesting what you find. For us after we
ripped off the tin roof and found gold, the skip sheathing was 6/4 and
virtually unweathered.
EJ

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to "Wayne Cattanach" on 06/05/2004 8:38 AM

06/05/2004 1:28 PM

Wayne Cattanach wrote:
> I am in the middle of dismantling a 98 year old Hemlock barn - the
> intent is to recycle the wood into a cottage - I am told that I
> should spray the beams and lumber with boiled linseed oil to protect
> against any fungus that may have started over the history of the wood
> - any thought or experience with such things would be greatly
> appreciated
>
> Wayne

I dismantled a hundred year old barn for the siding and used it in my living
room. I scrubbed it pretty aggressively with a strong bleach and water
solution, let it dry, and then used it. It's been up for 15 years now -
maybe a bit more... time somehow escapes me... but I've had no fungus or bug
problems at all. I was just thinking as I was typing this that I may have
sprayed the wood with an insecticide as well as the bleach wash, but to be
honest - I can't remember. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do it though.
--

-Mike-
[email protected]


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