Woodworm – Know Your Enemies, Prevent Them
Preventing woodworm is a measure which is often neglected, only being recognised as a “good idea” after an infestation occurs.
Experts like the team at Thames Valley Timber Treatment see it far too often, the panic and fear in someone’s eyes as they relate their tale about how their property’s timbers, furniture or workspaces have become homes to unwanted pests.
Don’t let that be you.
Across Reading, Marlborough, Maidenhead and all areas in between, you don’t need to become another quivering recipient of post infestation timber treatment.
Trust professional, qualified experts with your woodworm treatment. They have access to products which are not available in the public domain and years of experience to draw upon.
Remember the adage: Prevention is better than cure.
Prevent woodworm by regularly checking furniture and inspecting areas. This may not be the most exhilarating task in your day but it could save you stress and money in the long term.
If you have suspicions then please seek advice from woodworm specialists, obtain a survey, preventative timber treatments and relax, secure in the knowledge that a job has been well done and you won’t have to share your environment. All work should be carried out with a guarantee, say of 30 years, so you can revel in full confidence.
You may not wish to spend money on preventative measures but are you keen on co-habiting or working alongside woodworm? The earlier that you act, the less expensive and time consuming the woodworm treatment is.
What are woodworm?
Woodworm is a general term for wood boring beetles.
This is an overview of their lifecycle:
- Eggs are laid in the crevices of the timbers and in wooden objects. These hatch after 10-14 days. The egg location is chosen by the mother for its security and with a view to the offspring’s survival.
- Larvae hatch, bore in to the wood and start to eat the cellulose in it, their means of nutrition. Furniture beetles live in this state for 2-5 years, tunnelling and nibbling without human interference. Deathwatch beetles, also classed as woodworm, live for 8-10 years in the larvae state. They can do irreparable damage and could pose health and safety and structural risks.
- The larvae turn in to pupa and travel towards the timber’s surface.
- The adult form of the woodworm is a beetle. These leave the timber and mate, this is their ultimate mission. Then they die. This stage lasts for less than 2 weeks.
How do woodworm survive?
Woodworm eat the cellulose in timber. It doesn’t matter to them if that’s your joists, stairs or prized item of furniture. It is a convenient restaurant and for as long as there is cellulose, there will be damage done to your timbers through holes and galleries (tunnels.) This is how the structural integrity of the timber is compromised, and remember, this continues for 2-10 years; the larvae-pupa stages are the most destructive.
Wherever you are, Newbury, Reading, Marlborough, Maidenhead, Swindon or Oxford, speak to woodworm specialists before there’s an infestation.