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This project is presented by Property Repair Systems
Summary: Woodworm - Common Furniture Beetle, House Longhorn Beetle & Death Watch Beetle - advice for these three types of Woodworm.
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If you need help with any type of Woodworm Property Repair Systems qualified staff will be pleased to give you completely free, no obligation advice on 01626 331351. The information you need may be in the project below. If not, call them.
Property Repair Systems offers you information regarding all types of timber treatment and repair. This also includes a free helpline manned by experts. Click on the logo above to find out more. Scroll down to the bottom for information regarding other timber treatments.
WOODWORM -1. Common furniture beetle
There are 3 types of woodworm in this country: the Common Furniture Beetle, (dealt with first), the House Longhorn Beetle and the Death Watch Beetle.
Damage by the furniture beetle is identifiable by a peppering of tiny holes in the surface of the wood. These holes are in fact emergence holes meaning that the adult beetle has emerged from and left the timber after spending its time tunneling through it as a grub.
The most common woodworm is the furniture beetle. This beetle attacks softwood species of timber leaving 1-2mm exit holes. It prefers damp, rather than dry wood and the grub will head for, and stays in, plywood for longer than any other timber. Damp floorboards, damp loft timbers and old furniture where the polished finish has worn off, (the furniture beetle prefers unfinished wood like old floorboards and loft rafters) are good targets for the beetle. The beetle lays its eggs on the timber and the grubs do the damage. With ‘active’ woodworm you will find a scattering of tiny dust piles on the timber. This dust is called ‘frass’. Structural weakening is rare with the furniture beetle, except in timbers whose cross section is small and there is a lot of damp.
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TREATMENT – Common Furniture Beetle
The best, safest and most pleasant treatment to apply is Boron Ultra 12, a water based ‘biostat’ that has no effect on other insects or mammals. This Borate is applied as two coats by brush or spray and soaks quickly into the timber. It is permanent and, unlike its main rival, Permethrin, has no vapour and no smell. It can only affect wood boring insects, so Bats (a protected species) are not affected – their main food, the house fly, does not eat wood and so never contains any Boron based preservative.
Heavily infested areas of timber, and damp patches, should have an application of Boron Ultra Gel as well, to reduce the risks of rot and provide extra active ingredient.
The so called ‘re-entry time’, set by the HSE for every Pesticide, is only 1 hour, or until dry, whichever is the longer. Pet birds and fish are not at risk from Boron-based preservatives, but do NOT apply Permethrin based alternatives (found in most DIY stores) if you keep any pets, particularly fish – Permethrin is lethal to fish in minute quantities.
WOODWORM – 2. House Longhorn Beetle
The house Longhorn Beetle is not common in the UK, except in certain areas of Surrey. It is principally found in roof timbers, where it attacks the sapwood of exclusively softwood species, often resulting in severe structural weakness. The holes and tunnels of this beetle are significantly larger than the furniture beetle. Treatment for this insect should NOT be attempted – it is a NOTIFIABLE PEST and if you suspect an attack contact Peter Bonfield, Head of Wood Properties, Building Research Establishment, E-mail: bonfieldp@bre.co.uk
. For detailed advice and a comprehensive treatment advice, click here.
TREATMENT – House Longhorn Beetle
Only by professional, qualified Timber Treatment companies – contact us for the details of your nearest BWPDA/PCA Member on 01626 331351.
WOODWORM - 3. Death Watch Beetle
Death Watch Beetle is common throughout the South of England. Northern parts are less affected, mainly where timbers have been imported, particularly Oak from France. This beetle attacks large hardwood timbers, such as Elm and Oak. The beetle, having started in hardwoods like these can move across to neighbouring softwoods. This beetle much prefers very damp conditions and even better when there is some kind of fungal decay or "wet rot" in the timbers. The beetle needs these conditions to develop rapidly. Treatment is more difficult than for Common Furniture Beetle, partly because of the 10 year life cycle and partly because severe structural damage can be caused to even large section timbers. For detailed advice and a comprehensive treatment kit, click here.
TREATMENT – Death Watch Beetle
‘Sound’ the timber with a hammer, to identify any hollow sections and carry out drilling tests with an 8 – 10mm diameter Auger, to establish the limits of the attack.Drill the timber with 10mm diameter holes to within 15mm of the opposing face, using the drilling pattern provided with the treatment kit. Inject Boron Ultra Paste into each hole, using an extension tube, injecting from the base of the hole outwards. Cap with a plastic cap or dowel with timber.
Apply two coats of Boron Ultra Gel by brush to all affected areas, going at least 300mm clear onto sound timber in all directions from the attack.
Carry out an annual re-inspection for signs of activity and re-treat where necessary. Surface treatment alone is not sufficient to deal with Death Watch Beetle.
If you need further help with any type of Woodworm attack Property Repair Systems qualified staff will be pleased to give you completely free, no obligation advice on 01626 331351.
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