Woodworm
When we talk about Woodworm in relation to construction timbers, what we are actually referring to are a number of species of Wood Boring Beetles found in structural roofing and flooring timbers of buildings. Some of these Wood Boring Beetles or “Woodworm” also infest joinery timbers. For example, skirting boards, panelling, architraves and doors. Woodworm can also be found in furniture and musical instruments as well as many other timber based products.
Put into prospective there are around 400,000 species of beetle. Here in the UK there are only 5 main species of Wood Boring Beetles that are responsible for the majority of Woodworm damage to structural timber in buildings. These are the Common Furniture Beetle, Wood Boring Weevils, Death Watch Beetle, House Long Horn Beetle and Powder Post Beetle.
 Protectahome Woodworm Treatment |
 Protectahome Woodworm Treatment |
The term Woodworm should actually only used to describe the Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum). Due to the damage characteristics of other Wood Boring Beetles being so similar, it is totally understandable why the term Woodworm is so often used by non specialists to describe other Wood Boring Beetle or Insect infestations.
Typically small holes (flight holes) in the surface of timbers, sometimes accompanied with bore dust (frass) deposited directly beneath or adjacent to the flight hole, alert an occupier or building surveyor that a problem may exist with Woodworm.
It is important to have a professional survey carried out by a surveyor who specialises in timber infestation in order to ensure that the damage characteristics are correctly attributed to the right species of Wood borer. Our surveyors are experts in Wood Boring Beetle infestation of building timbers and they are able to give recommendations in relation to any Woodworm treatment that may be required.
Not all “Woodworm” needs to be treated however. There are species of Wood Boring Beetles that do not require specialist chemical treatment. In addition not all infestations are active, they may have been treated before and/or vibration within the building could be responsible for bore dust being dislodged, common in under stairs areas.
 Typical Heavy Woodworm infestation in timber floorboards and joists in a domestic property © |
 “Woodworm” flight holes. Death Watch Beetle infestation viewed from beneath a timber floor © |
With offices in Bristol, Bromsgrove, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Leamington, Llanelli, London, Newport, Plymouth, Stockport you will never be too far away from a Protectahome Surveyor. To arrange for one of our expert Surveyors to carry out a Woodworm Survey please Contact Us on 0845 601 1980 or email web@protectahome.co.uk
Click below for our Woodworm Case Studies:
