Client: Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Essex, contracted Timberwise to perform woodworm treatment on their home, an 18th century solid brick property with a traditional timber frame. We were called out on suspicion of a woodworm infestation, which we verified. We found extensive damage on both floors of the property, including the adjoining staircase, which were caused by two species of woodboring beetles. We also found extensive structural damage to the exterior, which we surmised may have been the cause of the infestation. The property was occupied and furnished at the time of the inspection. The weather conditions were sunny.
Challenges
As this was a private residential property, we were restricted in our assessment due to furniture, stored items, and dry linings of the occupants which had to be repositioned during our inspection. Our observations were also restricted to the entrance and front rooms of the ground floor and the front bedroom of the first floor.
Observations
We performed a brief external inspection of the property upon arrival from the ground level only. Immediately, we noticed that there were significant defects across the exterior. This pertained to the roof coverings, guttering, structural and facing masonry, external rendering, and the existing damp proof course. There were missing and slipped tiles and slates to the front of the building, which meant the roof wasn’t functioning properly and could lead to damp penetration, as well as the defective guttering.
One of the more alarming things was damage to the structural masonry. We noted extensive parallel horizontal cracking by the bedding joints to the front elevation which would need to be rectified. The facing stones of the masonry were also spalled to the right elevation, making it likely to cause damp penetration on the lower part of the house.
Cracked and defective rendering was noted to the front elevation and there was no visible damp proof course noted at the property, meaning that these were easy entry points for damp.
Once inside the property, we set to work accessing both floors to assess the extent of the woodworm infestation. We found a moderate infestation on the ground floor, with two species identified: the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum), and the deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). The infestation was apparent across the building’s reception room and front entrance.
A moderate to severe infestation of common furniture beetle was also detected on the staircase. Ascending the stairs into the upper floor, we also found a moderate infestation on the first floor in the front two bedrooms. Like downstairs, we detected an infestation caused by both the common furniture beetle and the deathwatch beetle.
The deathwatch beetle is one of the four species of woodborers common in the UK. The adult beetle lays eggs in crevices in old wood, with their larvae boring into timber. They can feed for up to ten years before pupating. Their habitat is usually timber that has been affected by damp or fungal decay, as the wood is soft enough for the larvae to chew through. They’re often much bigger than the common furniture beetle, averaging 7mm in length. As such, they leave behind much larger holes and can weaken the structure of timber after tunnelling through them.
Solutions
After the assessment, we concluded that our technicians will clean down and prepare any timbers as needed for treatment before spraying it with insecticidal fluid to the ground floor staircase.
No allowance has been made for the removal and protection of insulation and covering of the exposed water tanks in the property, as this would need to be carried out by the client under a separate contract prior to our technicians’ arrival. We will also apply the same treatment to the top surface of exposed timbers to the ground floor’s exposed timbers, built in wall timber that acts as structural support, and the wall plates including the door lintels.
Results
The issues with the roofing, guttering, and structural masonry were deemed to be pressing enough and more than likely the initial cause of the infestation. If left unchecked, it could lead to significant structural problems further down the line as well as issues with rising and penetrating dampness.
Do You Want Help with a Woodworm Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Essex are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 01245 658 144, or you can request a survey online.
