HOW TO IDENTIFY IF YOU HAVE A WOODWORM PROBLEM? It can be tricky to tell if you have an active woodworm infestation as the main damage is caused inside the timber.
Small round holes in your woodwork, typically 1mm to 2mm in diameter
Fine, powdery dust around these holes
Crumbly edges to boards and joists
Weak or damaged timbers or flooring
WOODWORM ?
How to tell if woodworm are active?
Judging whether the damage you’ve found is an active woodworm infestation or not is always the hard part.
One popular method for testing for an active woodworm infestation is filling the exit holes with beeswax or tissue paper, leaving it for a year and seeing if any adult beetles bore through in the next year. Whether or not you give this a go, it’s always best to talk to a specialist before going ahead with any treatment.
Where You Can Find Woodworm?
Woodworm can be found in all manners of wood surfaces including:
– Floorboards
– Furniture
– Joists/beams
– Roof timbers
– Painted wooden surfaces
– Wooden tools
– Joinery and structural timbers
– Decorative woodwork
– Musical instruments
How to prevent woodworm
Though it’s difficult to keep woodworm out completely, you can definitely make your home less appealing by:
– Keeping all wood dry
– Keeping your home heated and well ventilated
– Buying furniture made from good quality hardwood
– Sealing wood with varnish
– Carefully checking for signs of woodworm when purchasing antique or second-hand furniture
– Removing infected wood from your home
– Replacing infected timbers
– Using flytraps to catch and contain adult wood boring beetles, hopefully before they have a chance to mate!