Is yellow poplar suitable?

[va builder]

We live in Western Virginia and own property that has a lot of very tall, very straight yellow poplar (tulip) on it. I would like to know if it would be suitable to build a log home with it. If so, what type of preservative should I use? Yellow poplar was one of the trees of choice for early settlers in my area and some of the log cabins still stand today but that was old growth timber. From what I understand, new growth poplar has lost some of it's durability. Also I would like to know if there is anyone in
my area who has built a log home using Skip's methods.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[jeffro]

You are right about one thing, there is a huge difference between the old growth poplar which can still be reused 100+ years later and new growth poplar boards which will rot within a few years if exposed to the elements. WIth the right peeling and a really good roof, you can probably make the new growth last for many decades.

Several bugs and boring bees like the wood down here in the southeast, so you would probably have to spray it with one of the borate solutions or something.

Basil is building with poplar in KY, maybe he will chime in with some better advice for you.

[Oneshot]

I will be using yellow poplar. Basil used it also with no problems.

[jbeall]

Hey Oneshot,

Did you wind up going with Yellow Poplar? How has that worked out for you? Do you have pictures of your house?

-Josh