Woodworm Treatment Services in The Derby Area

If you have woodworm in your home or at your business then you have a problem that is not going to go away without specialist assistance. Pest Professionals in Derby can assist to provide 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 domestic and business customers in the Derby area. No woodworm or timber job is too big or too small for us to look at. Where appropriate we are able to advise on any immediate steps needed to protect your health, property or possessions prior to a visit. If a visit is called for we let you know if there will be a call out cost and advise on the likely 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 untreated, these insects will bring about significant damage, which can ultimately bring about structural failure of the building.

Although the adults can fly, woodworm is typically brought into a home for the first time through the purchase of second hand furniture and can of course also cause significant 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 number of 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 – leaving no trace until they emerge as beetles three years or so later, normally 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 indication of woodworm most people see is precise, round holes around 2mm across in wooden surface areas, 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 therefore 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 need 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 affected and need saving, a specialist woodworm treatment approach will certainly be needed. Woodworm in furniture may be cured with the use 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 carry out an initial survey to establish 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 eradicate woodworm entirely. In the event of a substantial or difficult to eradicate infestation, we can also advise on specialist heat treatment approach.

Varieties 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 reside in them for ten years.

House Longhorn Beetle

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

Powder Post Beetle

Red/brown beetle that needs a diet of starch found in certain 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 fast solutions to woodworm or timber pest problems anywhere in Derby or the surrounding towns and villages – get in touch.