Woodworm Treatment Specialists

When you are faced with a woodworm infestation you want professional solutions with long term results. Rentokil Property Care can provide specialist woodworm treatments to control woodboring beetle infestations, and carry out repairs to any damaged timber.

The first step is a thorough damp and timber survey to fully investigate the species causing the active woodworm infestation, and the extent of damage across your property.

Often woodworm can infest structural timbers and remain hidden for years, so specialist help may be required. If left, the larvae create tunnels within the wood, removing the structural integrity of the timber, and can affect structural joists and beams, wooden furniture and even flooring and skirting boards.

Rentokil Property Care have put together a guide on the woodworm treatment process, and when specialist treatments may be needed. We have been dealing with woodworm infestations in homes and businesses for decades, and have a number of CSRT and CSTDB qualified surveyors who are experts in identifying woodworm, and will provide you with detailed recommendations for treatments, if required.

Because the treatment process for wood boring insects differs depending on the woodworm species involved, it is always recommended that a professional surveyor is consulted. They will identify the woodworm species, and whether the infestation is active or not. This can be done by looking for fresh exit holes in timber, which differ in size with different species, while the presence of fine powdery dust similar to sawdust known as frass indicates an infestation is active. If the infestation is severe, timber that has lost its structural integrity may also need to be replaced.

A CSRT or CSTDB qualified surveyor will detail their findings in a survey report, which will contain information on whether woodworm treatments are required, and if timber repairs are needed.

Sometimes woodworm infestations are caused by other issues, like a lack of ventilation and damp problems. Woodboring Weevil is a woodboring pest that will consume decayed and damp timber, so the source of moisture will need to be addressed.  If woodworm treatments are required and you wish to go ahead, our Rentokil Property Care technicians will arrive on site at a time suitable to you. They will keep you informed of the processes involved, while taking care of your property from start to finish.

Our technicians will come prepared with protective floor coverings, and where necessary will use Hilti dust extraction units and vacuums in order to keep your property clean and tidy. Where possible they will cover surfaces with dust sheets in order to keep disruption to a minimum. They will remove timber that has been structurally damaged and where possible, as much of the original timbers will be retained by only removing weakened sections.

Once the preparation work has been carried out woodworm treatment sprays can then take place. This will depend on the size, location and extent of issues. Often woodworm treatments take place in hard to reach areas such as sub floor voids and attics, so an accumulation of dust and debris must be cleaned out before treatment.

If sprays are carried out in the attic, loft insulation will also need to be lifted to gain access to the timbers, and water tanks need to be covered. This will give a clean area ready for insecticide to be applied. Our technicians will then apply specialist insecticidal products that eliminate woodworm on contact, or are ingested by the larvae.  This will break the life cycle of the woodworm within the timber, and will remove the infestation over time.

The professional woodworm treatments that Rentokil Property Care carry out are safe when
conducted by trained technicians in accordance with label conditions and HSE guidelines. We take all necessary precautions to protect your health and safety.

If during the damp and timber survey the surveyor identifies a damp problem that could be contributing to the woodworm infestation, or is causing other issues such as wet rot or dry rot, they may provide recommendations for remedial damp proofing. Certain types of beetle infestations actively require damp conditions or rotten timber to survive.

Sometimes woodworm infestations are found in parts of a property that are susceptible to high humidity, such as attics, sub floor voids, the underside of floorboards, basements and crawl spaces. Ventilation may need to be increased to help prevent the build up of moisture.

The extent of timber needing to be replaced will be detailed in the survey report, and any timber that is structurally damaged or weakened is removed and replaced.

For large timbers where there has been extensive infestations over a long period of time, resin repair techniques may be required. A  timber resin splice (TRS) is a method of repair used for damaged structural timber so the whole length does not need to be replaced.

The damaged section of timber is cut back before a new section is bonded to the existing timber and then fixed into place using mechanical fixings and epoxy resins.

The repair joint is concealed, so creating a seamless finish. This is often a preferable method when carrying out repairs in historic or listed buildings where visible steel plates or bolts are not wanted and as much original timber as possible needs to be retained.

Rentokil Property Care have a number of local technicians who are experienced in joinery, carrying out repairs to the highest industry standards. They will take the time to discuss the process from start to finish to ensure you face minimal disruption.

Often floorboards are the most common timbers in a property affected by woodworm. A woodworm infestation is often only noticed once a floorboard gives way. Sub floor voids are often damp and have poor air circulation, compounding the problems.

Rentokil Property Care will identify any damage to floorboards, and carry out replacements where required.

During the damp and timber survey the surveyor will carry out a survey of sub floor voids, and will check for signs of woodworm on the underside of floorboards, and other hard to reach areas. They will also consider the ventilation and if improvements are required.

Once all work has been completed and final sign off has taken place, you will receive a long term guarantee if applicable, giving you the reassurance the woodworm problem is solved.

From our origins in the 1920’s to the present day, Rentokil Property Care have outlived our guarantees several times over. This gives you the peace of mind that comes with a long term solution, carried out by professionals. Our woodworm treatment service typically comes with a 30-year guarantee.

Details of the guarantee will be provided in the survey report, and once provided can be transferred to future homeowners, should you choose to move in the future.

Rentokil Property Care have full UK coverage from our network of local branches, so are able to provide advice and specialist woodworm treatments across the country. If you are concerned about woodworm in your property, and want professional advice on how to get rid of woodworm, our local surveyors are here to help.

We are experts in woodworm and timber solutions, and have been offering professional advice for homeowners and commercial clients for decades.