carpenter bees-- what material for porches, decks?

13 years ago

Doing major renovation, adding entry porch, deck and screened porch. I am an organic grower and need my carpenter bees for pollination. Those bees test every scrap of wood I've got around here for places to bore, so the new decks/porches need to be carpenter-bee resistant. Thinking of ipe, but the framing is still PT, right? What to do... what to do.

Comments (5)

john_hyatt
13 years ago
The only total carpenter bee resistant frame material is steel. There are several places to get I beams and metal joists. J.
southgeorgia_girl
Original Author
13 years ago
steel would be bee-proof, i agree, but what about other choices? Ipe and the other exotics would be considered to be bee-resistant, right? But the framing is still PT, am I correct?
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john_hyatt
13 years ago
The steel would be for the Framing.

The only total carpenter bee resistant Frame material is steel.

South American lumber used for decking/rail would defentley slow them down.
J.
clg7067
13 years ago
Why not build a bee box to give them someplace else to live?

Lots of links if you google it.

http://soggibottom.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-plans-and-instructions-how-to.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Bee Box
sombreuil_mongrel
13 years ago
The appear to prefer unpainted wood over painted wood. So, paint everything, and give them some habitat of raw white pine. They love boring into white pine. DAMHIKT. Get them clear wood, as the knots give them heartburn. ;-)
Casey