Is the woodworm infestation active or historic? What type of beetle infestation is it? Does it actually need any treatment? Do you actually need a woodworm survey?
We can help with a survey to determine what is going on, and if there is a suitable sympathetic approach to help solve the issue.
Many of the woodworm surveys that we carry out we often find that the infestation is historic, but where it’s active though we can offer specialist guaranteed treatments where necessary.
Deathwatch beetle is normally found attacking hardwood timbers especially when timbers are partially decayed by fungal decay. We normally find this infestation on the bearing end timbers built into walls and lintels. Sometimes the damage is so extreme the bearing end timbers will require a timber resin repair, or a whole new timber.
The adult Death Watch Beetle is 6-9mm long and chocolate brown, the life cycle can be around 10 years depending on conditions.
The most important part of treatment for deathwatch beetle is the bearing end of timbers, because this area is more likely to suffer from dampness. Always make sure the surveyor measures the moisture content of the timber as close to the bearing end as possible and inspect the area externally for defective pointing or leaks. If high readings are noted we would recommend further investigation is necessary.
If woodworm treatment is needed we can help give costs for this, which would include an insurance backed guarantee if required. Treatment of Deathwatch beetle can be very limited because this is normally associated with hardwood timbers that have, or had moisture issues. Most Deathwatch infestations are located to bearing end timbers where moisture levels are slightly more elevated and the moisture balance has just been tipped. We can carry out resistance drilling of bearing end timbers to determine the extent of the infestation. We will be shortly collecting our first batch of data, where we have been drying timbers down to try and eliminate Deathwatch beetle infestations. This will hopefully enable us to try and offer a chemical free environmentally friendly way to help try and solve Deathwatch beetle infestations.
