WOODWORM SEASON!
Starting around springtime and heading into late summer is a good time to look for signs of woodworm. It is at this time that the beetles will leave the wood they have been in over winter to find a mate.
In the UK the most common species of woodworm is the Common Furniture Beetle. This beetle will attack all untreated timber in your home and if not treated can cause serious damage. Affected timbers can be seriously weakened leading to structural failure. If you are buying a property it is vital that you have a property survey that will investigate for woodworm activity.
An easy sign of woodworm activity is the many small circular holes that are created as the beetles leave the wood. Fresh holes are a sign of current activity. These holes will look cleaner and there are often tell-tale signs of wood dust or “frass” accompanying them. Late February to Late April is a good time to watch for this as the beetles leave to start the mating season. An active infestation of woodworm may not show any frass if the affected item is regularly cleaned. Moved or brushed past. This is often the case when woodworm attacks furniture, in these cases, it is best to consult an expert.
You may see signs of damaged wood in your loft or perhaps your floor-boarding and staircases as you do home maintenance. Badly damaged wood may be soft and crumbly you may also see evidence of boring tunnels. In serious infestations the holes may be so close together it can be mistaken for dry rot. It is important to contact a specialist to ensure that the correct treatment is given. This will ensure you do not waste money by treating the wrong thing.
To treat woodworm JWSurveys recommend that a fully trained and experienced surveyor will inspect your property and conduct a thorough woodworm survey to ensure if treatment is necessary and what woodworm treatment will be most effective. Chemical treatments for woodworm are not always necessary. The JWSurveys adviser will be able to explain the alternatives to you. Should a woodworm problem be suspected then under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, timber preservation treatment must only be carried out if active infestation can be demonstrated. This prevents unnecessary treatment of previously cleared timber.
A JWSurveys woodworm report will
- Identify the species of beetle and the seriousness of the woodworm infestation
- Confirm if the woodworm is still active
- Specify the best and mist effective woodworm treatment for your property
- Identify any other treatments required (e.g. for dry rot or damp)
Please contact us for a no-obligation discussion. We will then arrange for a woodworm survey and produce an independent report of any problems found and the treatments required.