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Too valuable for the furnace
Why beetle oak?
Climate change is posing enormous challenges to our native forests. Hotter summers and prolonged droughts are weakening even our native oaks, which are known for their resilience. The consequence: the oak pinhole borer is moving in. What used to be sorted out as a rare exception is now a reality in silviculture – and this is a topic that will be with us permanently in the future.
As so-called "damaged wood," this timber often ended up being used directly for thermal energy in the past. But for us at Gunreben, it has long been clear: this wood is far too valuable for the furnace! Instead of burning it, we process oak wood affected by beetles into parquet and floorboards, for example, our vintage grades. The beetle's boreholes remain visible as a characteristic feature. This turns wood that would otherwise have been burned into a long-lasting floor, without you having to make the slightest compromise in quality in everyday life.
Natural feature instead of defect
In the course of initiatives such as the “Climate Oak” (Klimaeiche) project by the German timber industry, many wood-processing companies are rethinking how they handle these natural wood characteristics. This is also reflected, for example, in the DIN 4074 standard for the grading of structural timber: fine, abandoned boreholes from wood-boring insects (such as the oak platypus beetle) up to a diameter of 2 mm are considered a permissible natural feature in untreated wood, rather than a technical defect or quality flaw, provided that the load-bearing capacity remains intact.
Completely without uninvited guests
Why no beetle moves in with your customer
Your customers may be concerned about whether beetle-damaged oak flooring will bring beetles into their own four walls. We can reassure you and your customers here. The biology of the oak pinhole borer and our production chain ensure that the wood is “inhabitant-free” at the time of purchase.
It becomes increasingly uncomfortable for the beetle with every production step
STEP 1
Felling in the forest
The oak pinhole borer does not feed on the wood itself, but on a specific ambrosia fungus. This fungus requires fresh, particularly moist wood. As soon as the tree is felled, the trunk begins to dry out – therefore, the vast majority of insects voluntarily leave soon after the felling.
STEP 2
Sawing in the sawmill
At the latest when the trunk arrives at our sawmill and is cut into planks or square timber, the moist microclimate inside the wood finally collapses. The surfaces dry out rapidly, causing the fungus to die off quickly – and with it, the beetle’s only source of food.
STEP 3
Kiln drying
If, contrary to expectations, any isolated larvae should have survived, this is the end of the line. During the computer-controlled heat treatment, the wood is heated through in a controlled manner over several days. Any remaining fungi and larvae are reliably killed off as a result.
The result
What reaches your customer are clean, empty, tiny tunnels. Since the wood generally remains dry in interior spaces, the beetle can no longer find a viable habitat. The oak pinhole borer is exclusively interested in fresh, moist wood in the forest.
What speaks in favor of oak for beetle habitats
Beetle-infested oak is no compromise. It is wood with a history
Conserves resources
Multiple-use wood is good wood. We save valuable heartwood from thermal recovery (incineration)
Attractive price
You secure premium real wood from local forests with a noticeable price advantage compared to other grades.
Vintage Look
The fine wormholes tell the story of our nature. Each individual vintage product is an absolute one-of-a-kind piece with an unmistakable character.
Request the current stock directly from us
Beetle-infested inquiries
Good to know: Availability based on volume
As our reclaimed oak is sourced exclusively as salvaged material, quantities cannot be planned in advance. Our stocks of vintage flooring and planks therefore change constantly and are only ever available while current supplies last.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ regarding Gunreben beetle-damaged oak
What is beetle-killed oak?
We use this term to describe oak wood featuring visible tunnels from a previous beetle infestation. The markings remain visible as a deliberate characteristic of the grading, resulting in a lively wood grain that varies from piece to piece.
Is beetle-infested oak generally less stable?
This cannot be answered in general terms for every piece of wood and every intended use. The decisive factors are the product-specific grading, processing, and approval. The variants offered here are intended for flooring, interior finishing, or non-load-bearing boards and are not marketed as structurally load-bearing timber.
Could there still be insects in the wood?
Technically dried and inspected material is used for further processing. The visible passages are traces of previous infestation. If a project has specific documentation requirements, the available information regarding the drying process can be coordinated before the order is placed.
For which applications is the sorting intended?
Depending on the product, for flooring, furniture and interior design, as well as non-load-bearing timber products. The technical specifications, installation instructions, and application limits of the specific product offered are always authoritative.
How consistent does the delivered merchandise look?
Beetle holes are a naturally varying characteristic. Their number, position, and prominence may differ within a batch. Samples and product images therefore serve as a guide and do not constitute a guarantee of an identical appearance.
What is the availability?
The quantities depend on the actual raw timber supply, the sorting, and production approval. Stock levels, dimensions, and finishes may therefore vary. For specific projects, an early stock inquiry is recommended.
