Trees do have a lifespan so the terms "old growth" and "virgin timber" are a little bit misleading. I like the term "slow growth" used by some. It can often mean nicer lumber and even higher design values than we presently use, but not always. Many older houses here were framed with slow grown red oak. Grading aside (way aside on some), this wood is a good deal less dense and weaker than fast grown oak. Tool handle manufacturers do not accept hickory with more than about 6 rings/inch because they are aware of this. High ring count ring porous woods contain more thin walled large diameter vessels than more rapidly grown ones. Yellow poplar, a diffuse porous wood, is another one that is stronger when it grows at a more rapid clip with more sunlight. Diffuse porous woods are more variable in regards to growth rate/strength. Softwoods are also quite variable but are generally considered to be in the average range with rates of 6-40 rings/inch. In the "virgin" forest... the one the native americans and nature burned, blew over or froze out quite often, there were constantly changing pockets of nutrients and sunlight. When a tree falls on my mountain it generally takes out a swath with it and then the wind works on the hole... the natural beginning of succession. The reason the longleaf dominated the southeastern seaboard when we arrived was frequent thinning fires, they weren't all natural by any stretch, forest management didn't begin 400 years ago.. None of that means harvesting fast growth softwood that is nothing but juvenile core and compressionwood is a good thing.
If the contractor attached to the existing well he improved things as well as shimming, If he just nailed at the ends do you really want calcs on that bending moment (an improvement) or just on the connection (load/# nails)?
