Woodworm Treatment Services in The North West

If you have woodworm in your property or at your business then you have a problem that is not going to go away without expert help. Pest Professionals in the North West can assist to present you with instant advice and help if you have woodworm problems in two extremely simple and effective steps:

The no obligation phone consultation service applies to both residential and business customers in the North West region. No woodworm or timber job is too large or too small for us to look into. Where appropriate we are able to offer guidance on any immediate steps required to safeguard your well being, property or belongings prior to a visit. If a visit is required we let you know if there will be a call out fee and also advise on the likely costs of any timber or woodworm treatment should it be required.

Treatment of Woodworm and Timber Pests

The widespread use of timber in modern structural applications (floor joists, roof purlins, floorboards, rafters etc.) has intensified the threat that timber pests pose. If left untreated, these insects will bring about considerable damage, which can ultimately lead to structural failure of the building.

Although the adults can fly, woodworm is commonly brought into a home for the first time through the purchase of second hand furniture pieces and can of course also cause serious damage to costly wooden furniture, which may be antique.

Woodworm is in fact not a specific species of timber pest, but a generic term for the larval stage of a many wood damaging beetles.

The Furniture Beetle, a small brown insect which is about 3mm to 5mm in length and flies quite readily, is the commonest. The Furniture Beetle lays its eggs on rough, unpolished wood and as soon as they hatch the grubs bore directly into the wood – disappearing until they emerge as beetles three years or so later, usually between May and September. Longhorn, Powder Post, Wharf Borer and Death Watch Beetles, the latter of which only infests large, old, hardwood beams, all possess a foothold in the UNITED KINGDOM.

The first sign of woodworm many people see is precise, rounded holes around 2mm across in wooden surfaces, often found with by tiny piles of wood dust beneath them.

New holes show clean white wood inside. Although the holes are made by emerging adult beetles that are as a result no longer a direct threat to the structure, larvae may nonetheless be burrowing away inside the wood. Crumbly edges to boards and to joists are also often a reliable indicator of their inhabitance and the need for woodworm control measures.

Woodworm Control

In cases where valued, rare and expensive pieces of wooden furniture, musical instruments, decorative or structural woodwork are impacted and need rescuing, a specialist woodworm treatment technique will definitely be needed. Woodworm in furniture can be cured with the use of the correct kind of proprietary woodworm killer, with fluid injected into key flight holes. Floorboards should be lifted to get at the undersurfaces and the joists.

If you have woodworm you will need to get rid of them. One of our experienced Pest Professionals will carry out an initial survey to determine the type of timber pest involved and the extent of the problem, before advising on the most suitable treatment. The good news is that on evaluation a suitable treatment can eliminate woodworm entirely. In the event of a heavy or difficult to eradicate infestation, we can also advise on specialist heat treatment approach.

Varieties of Timber Pests in the UK

The Furniture Beetle

Easily the most prevalent timber pest in the UK. Damages furniture, musical instruments, decorative woodwork etc. Larvae live for 3-5 years in the wood.

Beetle Larvae

Timber pest larvae bore deep into the wood and emerge from May to September. They can be burrowing in the wood for many years.

Death Watch Beetle

Dark reddish brown. Grubs like to eat older, hardwood structural timbers and can reside in them for ten years.

House Longhorn Beetle

Black/brown beetle not native to UK and primarily found in SE England. Infests seasoned and partially seasoned softwoods like pine.

Powder Post Beetle

Red/brown beetle that needs a diet of starch found in particular hardwoods. Can be a real problem in timber yards.

Wharf Borer Beetle

A brown beetle about 1cm long which inhabits decayed wet timber. Adults often found close to waterways.

If you need sound advice or swift solutions to woodworm or timber pest problems anywhere in North West region – get in touch.