Service
Woodworm treatment in Weston-super-Mare & North Somerset
Wood-boring beetles can be active for years before you see a single hole. We identify the species, judge whether it's active, and treat every accessible timber, roof to floor.
Woodworm, and why it’s often missed
“Woodworm” is the larval stage of several wood-boring beetles. The grubs tunnel through timber for two to five years before emerging as adults and leaving the round exit holes people recognise. By the time the holes appear, a lot of the damage is already done, and a new generation may already be tunnelling.
Common signs:
- Round exit holes roughly 1 to 2mm across in floorboards, joists and roof timbers
- Fine, gritty bore dust on or below affected timber
- Tunnels visible in broken or cut timber; weak, crumbling edges to joists and rafters
- Dead beetles on windowsills or in cobwebs in early summer
Damp timber is beetle bait
Furniture beetle strongly prefers timber with a raised moisture content. A woodworm problem is frequently a signpost to a damp problem, a leaking roof over the loft, poor sub-floor ventilation, or penetrating damp at a gable. We check for that as part of the same visit, because drying the timber out is half the cure.
Our treatment
- Identify and assess. Species, whether it’s active, and how far it has spread. If it’s a dead infestation we’ll tell you and save you the cost.
- Prepare. Loft cleared and insulation lifted; carpets or boards up where floor timbers are affected.
- Treat. Biokil Crown approved insecticidal fluid applied by pump spray to all accessible timber, rafters, purlins, joists, floorboards and bearers.
- Structural check. Where beetle attack plus decay has weakened timber, we flag or carry out structural repairs.
Treatment is commonly needed for a pre-purchase survey where a mortgage lender has asked for a timber report.
Where we treat woodworm treatment
Common questions
How do I know if the woodworm is still active?
Fresh exit holes look clean and light-coloured, often with gritty bore dust (“frass”) below them. Adult beetles emerge between roughly May and August. Old, dark, dust-free holes may be a long-dead infestation needing no treatment. Our guide to spotting active woodworm covers the checks.
Which beetle species do you treat?
Most often Common Furniture Beetle. We also identify and advise on Deathwatch Beetle, House Longhorn and wood-boring weevil, which need different handling. Correct identification decides whether treatment is even necessary.
Is the treatment safe for my family and pets?
We use Biokil Crown approved insecticidal products applied by trained operatives. Rooms need to be vacated during application and for a short drying period afterwards, we’ll give you exact timings.
How should I prepare the loft?
Clear stored items as far as possible and lift or remove insulation before our visit, so every accessible timber can be treated thoroughly with the insecticidal pump system.
Think you have woodworm trouble?
Call or request a callback and we'll arrange a proper look at the problem.