Woodworm Treatment Services in The Sheffield 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 expert help. Pest Professionals in Sheffield can assist to present you with immediate advice and help if you have woodworm problems in two extremely simple and effective stages:

The no obligation phone consultation service applies to both domestic and business customers in the Sheffield area. No woodworm or timber job is too large or too small for us to take a look at. Where appropriate we are able to offer guidance on any immediate steps needed to safeguard your well being, property or possessions prior to a visit. If a visit is required we let you know if there will be a call out fee and 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 increased the risk that timber pests pose. If left without treatment, these insects will cause significant 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 previously owned furniture 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 – 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 have a foothold in the UNITED KINGDOM.

The first sign of woodworm most people see is precise, rounded holes about 2mm across in timber surfaces, often accompanied by small piles of wood dust below them.

Fresh 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 still be tunnelling 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 high priced pieces of wooden furniture, musical instruments, decorative or structural woodwork are impacted and need rescuing, a specialist woodworm treatment approach will certainly be needed. 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 want 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 an appropriate treatment can eliminate woodworm completely. In the event of a heavy or hard 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 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 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 present 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 Sheffield or the local towns and villages – get in touch.