Dont panic, woodworm won’t make your house fall down!

Have you ever wondered why old woodworm holes are often visible in floor boards yet there is no history of treatment?

Probably not, but I will tell you anyway. Woodworm – more accurately although less catchily called woodboring beetle – come in many forms, from common furniture, to the dreaded deathwatch beetle. What is important to know is that it dies off when the moisture level in the wood is below a certain point (around 10%). And, provided the building is appropriately maintained, there is no reason why any widespread infestation should recur.

Of course, areas that are potentially in contact with dampness could remain at risk. But these can be addressed by eliminating the source of moisture. In some instances it is impossible to do so entirely, for example where timbers are embedded in the walls. While specialists would recommend treatment, we do not advocate such work. The chemicals can be environmentally damaging and rarely penetrate the areas most seriously affected, only exposed parts where infestation should die off anyway once the wood dries out.

Furthermore, most woodworm damage is so minimal that it would take years to become structurally relevant, by which time it will probably die out anyway.

So if you spot a few woodworm exit holes in the roof, don’t panic. The house won’t fall down, and if the surveyor says it should be treated, he’s probably covering his back. Instead, repair those leaky gutters…