Having a woodworm infestation is not something that anyone wants but it happens more commonly than you might think. Treating woodworm can be difficult without professional help as they are notorious for being difficult to catch effectively treat.
How Do You Know If You Have a Woodworm Infestation?
Woodworm problems can be tricky to identify; this is because the damage is usually done inside the wood so it’s not always visible on the outside. There are luckily a number of signs that you can look out for that indicate a woodworm problem, including;
- Small, round holes in the woodwork (usually 1mm-2mm diameter)
- Fine dust around the holes
- Boards and joists with crumbly edges
- Tunnels within the timber
- Timber flooring that is weak or damaged
Where Do You Find Woodworm?
Woodworm can thrive in a number of different places, including;
- Floorboards
- Furniture
- Joists/beams
- Roof timbers
- Painted wooden surfaces
- Wooden tools
- Joinery and structural timber
- Decorative woodwork
- Musical instruments
What Attracts Woodworm
There are many different types of wood boring beetle, each prefers different type of wood, one thing they do all have in common is that they like damp wood as it makes it easier to chew. Different wood-boring beetles will also have different tastes e.g. floorboards, furniture etc. but most will pretty much settle for anywhere.
How Serious is a Woodworm Infestation?
The seriousness of a woodworm infestation is dependent on a few factors, including;
- Type of species
- Size of infestation
- What has been infested
Some woodworm will cause minimal to no damage, whereas a major infestation of the wrong type of woodworm could lead to structural faults in the framework of the properly. This is not only extremely hazardous but can be costly to repair.
Preventing Woodworm
Preventing woodworm can be tricky, especially if the issue is with the main structure of the property. Some of the preventative steps that you can take to help stop woodworm before they start include;
- Keeping wood dry
- Keeping home heated and well ventilated
- Buying good-quality hardwood furniture
- Sealing wood with varnish
- Check for signs of woodworm when buying second hand furniture
- Remove infected wood from your home
- Replace infected timber
- Use floor traps to catch the adult beetles
Treating Woodworm
If you have a woodworm problem, don’t worry, woodworm is one of the most common household issues in the UK. Although you can go about treating woodworm yourself, it is recommended to hire a professional to come and scope it out.
With woodworm, you never quite know how bad the issue is until you begin to tackle it. As woodworm tend to reside in the interior of wood, this can be difficult to determine. Not only that, without proper inspection after treating woodworm you may not realise if you’ve missed any and it only takes a couple to start the cycle all over again. Hiring a specialist will help ensure that the problem is dealt with safely and effectively the first time round.
You can also get advice on how to prevent further problems.