A craftsman makes the best of the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado.

Got the Blues: A craftsman makes the best of the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado.

posted by Steven Rundquist

Green Source – The Magazine of Sustainable Design – June 2012
by David Sokol

When Steven Rundquist moved from Brewster, Massachusetts, to Bellvue, Colorado, in 1998, he geared his timber framing company to new residential construction in this area north of Boulder, instead of preserving the centuries-old homes he encountered on Cape Cod. Although Rundquist would look to the same historic precedents in this next chapter of his business, the materials at his disposal were not quite the same. Around 2005 he started hearing about a burgeoning of mountain pine beetles in the area. Five years ago he began seeing the ravages firsthand.

“At that time I was working on a timber frame project in Steamboat Springs, commuting from Bellvue to Steamboat by going up Poudre Canyon and over Cameron Pass. The west-facing hillsides had as much as 60 percent loss of Lodgepole pine. Soon trees were dying on the east side of Cameron Pass. Now it’s starting to show up in the lowest foothills where my home is located.”

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About the Author : Steven RundquistSteven C. Rundquist – Owner – Brewster Timber Frame Company Brewster Timber Frame Company was founded in 1985 in Brewster, Massachusetts. The heart of the company is myself and a network of skilled craftsmen. I have chosen to keep the company small in order to provide each client the individual, detail oriented service they deserve. I moved to Bellvue Colorado in 1998 and brought with me this unique opportunity for you to build your dreams here in the West. Living in Brewster, on Cape Cod in the heart of New England gave me the opportunity to study and work on several historical timber frame structures including 17th century windmills and several remodels of homes dating as far back as 1680. The saying which goes “They don’t build them like they used to” is true. Today we build them better. The frames are engineered for better long term stability. Design and building code requirements have made them safer, and more user friendly. Modern materials and construction techniques have made them more energy efficient and comfortable.View all posts by Steven Rundquist