Client: Residential client
Timberwise were called out to an end of terraced house on suspicion of woodworm in a solid stone, 1800s home. The survey, completed for a private residential client, noted that the external part of the building was in very good condition with no obvious defects. The woodworm infestation had infected the ground and first floor of the building, but had not moved to the attic. The building at the time was occupied and furnished. Weather conditions at the time of the assessment were sunny.
Challenges
Despite the advanced age of the property, everything was in great condition with minimal area of risk. While the property was occupied and had furniture, it was still straightforward in access and we were able to achieve what we needed to do without much difficulty. Floor coverings such as carpet, furniture, and additional items had already been moved out of the way by our client prior to our arrival for the survey.
Observations
As mentioned above, external observations of the property yielded no obvious problems with the roofing, masonry, or anything else and appeared to be in well kept condition. However, upon entering and inspecting the property, it was clear that there was an active woodworm infestation in both the ground and first floor towards the front of the property. The culprit was identified as the common furniture beetle on both floors, having spread to both front rooms on both floors and the landing of the house. Thankfully, at that point, the infestation had not spread to the roof.
Woodworm is a pervasive problem that a lot of homes, particularly older homes or new builds that have design flaws, experience in the UK. Woodworm infestations eat at the timber in buildings and weaken the wood over time, leading to severely damaged timber that can become dangerous if left untreated. Woodworm usually arises from damp timber, as the beetles generally prefer damp conditions, meaning that buildings that have leakages and issues with damp are often highly susceptible.
The common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) prefers damp conditions and their presence is usually localised solely to the parts of timber that are wet. Half a beam can have no infestation and the other half can, if one half is damp and the other is dry. This beetle attacks seasoned sapwood, and not live or fresh wood.
Solutions
In the interest of protecting the client’s belongings, they were advised to remove all furniture, stored items, and floor coverings prior to our arrival. For work to be done on the property, our team decided that the floorboards would need to be raised and re-nailed to be prepared for treatment. The timber would then need to be cleaned down and prepped before being sprayed with LigmaTek Insecticidal Fluid, along with any other beams that we would be unable to remove but could be sprayed from our access via the ground floor’s main reception room and subfloor. Floorboards will be then re-nailed upon completion.
Results
While the timber in the property can be rectified, the lack of apparent external issues with the property leave the question as to how the issues with internal damp arose in the first place. While we are able to remedy the situation, the direct cause of the infestation and dampness is still unclear, meaning that another survey conducted by a third party may need to be carried out to prevent rot from ocuring again.
Need help?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Gloucestershire are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 288 8660, or you can request a survey online.
