Woodworm Treatment Services in The Bedford Area

If you have woodworm in your property or at your business then you have an issue that is not going to go away without expert help. Pest Professionals in Bedford can assist to provide you with immediate advice and help if you have woodworm issues in two extremely simple and effective stages:

The no obligation phone consultation applies to both residential and business customers in the Bedford area. No woodworm or timber job is too big or too small for us to look at. Where appropriate we are able to offer guidance on any immediate action required to safeguard your health, property or belongings prior to a visit. If a visit is needed we let you know if there will be a call out fee and advise on the probable rates of any timber or woodworm treatment should it be necessary.

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 risk that timber pests pose. If left without treatment, these insects will bring about significant damage, which can ultimately lead to structural failure of the building.

Even though the adults can fly, woodworm is typically brought into a property for the first time through the purchase of second hand furniture pieces and can certainly 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 number of wood 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 once they hatch the grubs bore straight 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 have a foothold in the UK.

The initial indication of woodworm the majority of people see is neat, round holes about 2mm across in timber surfaces, often accompanied by small piles of wood dust beneath them.

New holes show clean white wood within. 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. Brittle edges to boards and to joists are also often a good indication 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 saving, a specialist woodworm treatment approach will definitely be required. Woodworm in furniture can be cured with the application of the appropriate 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 perform an initial survey to determine the type of timber pest involved and the extent of the problem, before advising on the appropriate 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.

Types 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 prefer 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 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 commonly found near to waterways.

If you need sound advice or fast solutions to woodworm or timber pest problems anywhere in Bedford or the local towns and villages – get in touch.