Woodworm Treatment Services in The Leicester Area

If you have woodworm in your home or at your business then you have an issue that is not going to go away without expert help. Pest Professionals in Leicester can assist to provide you with immediate advice and help if you have woodworm problems in two extremely easy and effective steps:

The no obligation phone consultation service applies to both domestic and business customers in the Leicester region. No woodworm or timber job is too big or too small for us to take a look at. Where appropriate we are able to advise on any immediate steps called for to protect your health, property or possessions prior to a visit. If a visit is needed we let you know if there will be a call out cost and also advise on the probable rates of any timber or woodworm treatment should it be called for.

Treatment of Woodworm and Timber Pests

The widespread use of timber in modern structural applications (floor joists, roof purlins, floorboards, rafters etc.) has increased the threat that timber pests pose. If left without treatment, these insects will cause significant damage, which can eventually bring about structural failure of the building.

Even though the adults can fly, woodworm is commonly brought into a property for the first time through the purchase of second hand furniture pieces and can of course also cause significant damage to expensive 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 timber damaging beetles.

The Furniture Beetle, a small brown insect which is about 3mm to 5mm in length and flies quite willingly, 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 U.K.

The initial sign of woodworm many people see is neat, round holes around 2mm across in timber surface areas, often found with by tiny piles of wood dust beneath them.

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

Woodworm Control

In cases where valued, rare and high priced pieces of wooden furniture, musical instruments, decorative or structural woodwork are impacted and need saving, a specialist woodworm treatment technique will certainly be required. Woodworm in furniture can be cured with the application of the correct type of proprietary woodworm killer, with fluid injected into key flight holes. Floorboards should be lifted to get at the undersides and the joists.

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

Types of Timber Pests in the UK

The Furniture Beetle

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 live in them for ten years.

House Longhorn Beetle

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

Powder Post Beetle

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

Wharf Borer Beetle

A brown beetle about 1cm long which lives in decayed wet timber. Adults often found near to waterways.

If you need sound advice or fast solutions to woodworm or timber pest problems anywhere in Leicester or the surrounding towns and villages – speak to us.