How to repair carpenter bee damage?

[plowhog]

I want to prep my barn for paint, and carpenter bees have caused widespread damage to the wood. There are numerous holes in the siding-- typically the size of a dime, or a nickle.

The eaves have some larger holes/voids that are maybe 1-2 inches across. Typically where the boards under the eave join together.

What are some options to repair this? I previously used LiquidWood/WoodEpox for a wooden threshold repair, but that stuff is stupid expensive and might be overkill for something like this ???

Thanks!

 

[Doughknob]

Anything made to stick really good to wood without pressure. Just filling holes does little good structurally unless the filler really sticks to the wood.

I don't know of anything that does this. The "real" fix is to replace the lumber if you want structural integrity.

 

[lman]

I don't think any of the damage he described was to structural wood.

 

[plowhog]

I don't think any of the damage he described was to structural wood.

The repair I need is to the siding / fascia boards. Not structural.

Just looking for "cosmetic" repair ideas for the exterior, prior to paint ......

 

[CADplans]

A trick that I found that makes the bees angry is:
take some "headed" nails, like framing nails, and drive the nails in the holes before you plug the holes.

The bees seem to like to come back to the same spot, and dig out the filler material you plug the holes with.
When they start digging,, they run into a nail,, and then they move on,,

I have fence posts that I simply drove nails into the carpenter bee holes, the bees did not return,,
The steel must be hard on their teeth??

 

[GeneV]

I fixed a bunch of those holes with plugs, you could get bags of them in various sizes at Home Depot or whatever.

 

[Rowdy Redneck]

I like Durhams wood filler.

 

[Midniteoyl]

The repair I need is to the siding / fascia boards. Not structural.

Just looking for "cosmetic" repair ideas for the exterior, prior to paint ......

Wood plugs and outdoor/marine glue. Cut flush. Might wanna put something behind them as suggested.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

I've tried wood filler without success.
I've used construction adhesive with EXCELLENT results.

 

[CobyRupert]

Carpenter bees were horrendous this year near us. I used wood filler. Filler was probably a success because we also hung up traps and got rid of hundreds of them.

 

[etpm]

I want to prep my barn for paint, and carpenter bees have caused widespread damage to the wood. There are numerous holes in the siding-- typically the size of a dime, or a nickle.

The eaves have some larger holes/voids that are maybe 1-2 inches across. Typically where the boards under the eave join together.

What are some options to repair this? I previously used LiquidWood/WoodEpox for a wooden threshold repair, but that stuff is stupid expensive and might be overkill for something like this ???

Thanks!

Bondo. Really.

 

[MossRoad]

As other's mentioned, drill the holes to a known size and plug with wood the same size and some waterproof glue. Cut flush with an oscillating multi-tool.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is the wood cedar? Here, I get hired to replace the wood. My clients have already tried filling the holes, and they just come back and make more holes. Once the wood is replaced, I spray it down really thick with Dawn Dishwashing Soap that mixed about 50/50 with water. They hate the feel of the Dawn on the wood and they go somewhere else. This works for wasps too!!!

I like the idea of using liquid nails. I never tried it, but think that it might work.

 

[s219]

I plug the bee holes with a cork and then trim it flush with a sharpened putty knife. Paint or stain over it. Fast and works well, and I got a bag of 100 corks for real cheap some time ago. The corks taper from about 3/8" to 1/2" or so, and fit the holes perfectly around here. You can really wedge them in tight and they do not budge afterwards.

I learned this trick from exterminators, who use corks to cover the holes after dusting them with Drione insecticide. The cork protects the Drione so it lasts 6+ months, enough time to kill any bee larvae that were already inside galleries in the holes and will eventually mature and try to crawl out.

I modify the procedure a bit -- when I see an active hole, I dust it. If there was an adult bee inside, they will stagger out. I've seen as many as 4-5 stagger out of a hole! Then I dust again and leave the hole open for a couple more days to get any other adults that might visit the hole. Then I cork it, trim it, and paint/stain over the top. Never had a bee try to come back to a corked hole or tunnel out from a corked hole.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Bondo. Really.

I've used this on pressboard siding before. Light sand, paint, sell

 

[Torvy]

I guess this is mildly off topic, but a) I had never heard of carpenter bees, apparently they do not live in the Dakotas b) this seems to be a good argument for vinyl or metal siding. I was thinking about wood, but I have no desire to spend part of my retirement filling bee holes. A!so, I don't want to use insecticides outdoors if it can be avoided.

A little more on topic, once patched, would a coat or two of paint stop them? May want to check with a college like TAMU. They seem to be good at insect abatement.

 

[oosik]

No carpenter bees in these parts. However - there is a bee/wasp that makes a small hole. About 1/8" in diameter. Very infrequently. I use fine sawdust & Gorilla glue to patch these holes.

 

[Richard]

What are the general thoughts on this (the following)

We get them little SOB's.... unrelated, I'm debating on replacing the guttering. The fascia behind the guttering seems to be their favorite chomping ground.

(never mind the 9 traps I had that were filled with dozens and dozens and dozens of them)

Anyway, what are the thoughts on replacing the natural wood fascia with one of those composite boards?

For the bees, I'm thinking they're not going to touch/bite it.... but I'm unsure how it would hold up with the gutter attached to it?

 

[mikester]

I use Permachink to seal up holes after they have been purged of critters and filled with WD40.

Perma-Chink Systems Log Home Chinking, Log Stain and Finish

Log home products and supplies

www.permachink.com

You can't "repair" the wood carpenter bees have drilled holes into, only seal them up to prevent them from nesting and drilling some more.

If they've gone unchecked for too long your wood loses structural integrity. They are very destructive and will cause you structural problems if ignored too long.

 

[big bubba]

for small voids, etc, i've had good luck with Bondo. believe they make a carpenter version, & sands out nicely