Woodworm Treatment Services in The North London Area and Hertfordshire areas

If you have woodworm in your property or at your business then you have a problem that is not going to go away without specialist assistance. Pest Professionals in North London can assist to provide you with immediate advice and help if you have woodworm problems in two very simple and effective steps:

The no obligation phone consultation applies to both residential and business customers in the North London region. No woodworm or timber job is too large or too small for us to look into. Where appropriate we are able to advise on any immediate steps needed to protect 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 cost and advise on the probable rates of any timber or woodworm treatment should it be necessary.

Treatment of Woodworm and Timber Pests

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

Even though the adults can fly, woodworm is commonly brought into a home for the first time through the purchase of second hand furniture and can of course also cause serious 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 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 as soon as they hatch the grubs bore directly into the wood – leaving no trace 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 UK.

The initial indication of woodworm many people see is precise, round holes about 2mm across in wooden surface areas, often accompanied by small piles of wood dust underneath 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 threat to the structure, larvae may nonetheless be tunnelling away inside the wood. Brittle edges to boards and to joists are also often a reliable indication 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 rescuing, a specialist woodworm treatment approach will definitely be needed. Woodworm in furniture may be cured with the application 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 skilled 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 most suitable treatment. The good news is that on evaluation a suitable treatment can eliminate woodworm completely. 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 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 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 commonly found around waterways.

If you need sound advice or rapid solutions to woodworm or timber pest problems anywhere in North London or Hertfordshire – get in touch.