Woodworm

Although small areas of woodworm infestation can often be treated as a DIY project, consideration should always be given to using the services of a specialist contractor.

Specialist contractors are trained to identify whether woodworm infestations are active (potentially saving you money if the infestation is found to be inactive). They will also be able to identify the species of woodworm involved. This is important as some species of woodworm are more destructive than others and require special methods of treatment.

Use our contractor enquiry form or call 01403 210204 for details of qualified woodworm treatment companies in your area.

The following treatment outline is suitable for treating small areas of the most common form of woodworm (common furniture beetle or anobium punctatum) affecting floors using SoluGuard Woodworm Treatment. Any timber that is structurally unsound should be replaced before treatment.

1. Display appropriate warning notices at entry points into the property to warn others what is happening or has happened and what precautions they should take.
2. Turn off at the fuse board any electrical circuits in the floor areas to be treated which include the lighting circuit for rooms directly below. Wrap any electrical junction boxes and other vulnerable fittings in plastic and tape to prevent preservative from entering them. Electricity for safety lighting and (if being used) an electric pump should be obtained from a different circuit. Do not turn on electrical circuits in treated areas until you are satisfied that the preservative is dry.
3. Completely clear areas for treatment of all furniture, floor coverings, stored articles and any other movable obstructions that may be present that will restrict access to the floor.
4. Carry out any necessary repairs and apply SoluGuard Woodworm Treatment by brush to any timber surfaces that will be concealed by the repairs.
5. Unless safe access to the underside of the floor is possible from the sub-floor void or a cellar, gain access to the sub floor timbers by raising sufficient floorboards across the entire width of a room. Single boards raised the full width of a room at approximately 1 metre intervals is usually sufficient.
6. At ground floor level, raise the floorboards as near to the wall plates as possible and adjacent to outside walls and solid floors. Remove dust from the top of exposed wall plates and carefully examine these more vulnerable sub-floor timbers in greater detail for the possible presence of fungal decay.
7. At first floor level, care should be taken to check that solid strutting or trimmers within the floor void do not obstruct access for the treatment.
8. All timber surfaces should be cleaned of dust as far as practically possible.
9. Read the label of SoluGuard Woodworm Treatment and take all precautions stipulated on the label including the wearing of personal protective equipment, removal of pets, food stuffs etc.
10. Dilute sufficient SoluGuard Concentrated Woodworm Treatment in accordance with instructions and make ready application equipment. If using SoluGuard Ready for Use Woodworm Treatment, no dilution is necessary.
11. Using a coarse low pressure spray, apply SoluGuard Woodworm Treatment at the designated application rate as follows: Through the raised board openings introduce the preservative applying spray lance between each of the joists exposed. Between each joist squeeze the trigger and manoeuvre it so that all accessible surfaces of the joists, wall plates and the underside of floorboards are coated. Repeat this procedure in both directions for each floorboard raised. Prior to relaying, the underside of the raised boards should be coated then re-fixed into position. Finally the top surface should be swept clean and coated.
12. SoluGuard Woodworm Treatment can also be applied using a paint brush.