Q.
I recently received a complaint on an ash floor we made for a customer quite some time ago.
We dried the rough stock down to 7 to 8 percent, then planed the floor to the customer's specs. The customer stored the material in his garage for a couple years. Now, after installing the floor, he notices small piles of sawdust and has determined it is powerpost beetles.
Is this possible after going through our kiln, and should we be liable for the cost of the extermination after two years?
A.
The kiln, if heated to 130 degrees F or hotter, sterilized the wood, so the beetles came in after drying. The garage is the likely source.
Did he have other wood stored there, especially some foreign hardwood? Powderpost beetle eggs will hatch and show up roughly year later.
Gene Wengert, forum moderator
From a legal standpoint, you have no problem if you followed the standard kiln schedule for ash. From a business standpoint, the person might spread bad vibes. I'd say work with him as much as you can, but you should have no financial liability.
