– PEST CONTROL SERVICES –
Tiny round holes in the floorboards, little piles of fine dust under a beam, a surveyor’s report that mentions woodworm just before you exchange contracts. Not every hole means an active problem, but when it is, the damage happens out of sight for years. Wiltshire Pest Services Ltd provides professional woodworm treatment for homes, period properties and businesses across Wiltshire and into the borders of Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire. Call us on 07711 259749 or use the form on this page and we’ll tell you whether it’s active and what it needs.
– LOVED BY HOMEOWNERS & BUSINESSES –
“Woodworm” is the larva of wood-boring beetles. The larvae tunnel inside the timber for years, so what you see on the surface is only part of the picture.
Neat round holes, usually 1 to 2mm across, in floorboards, joists, roof timbers, stairs or furniture. They’re made by adult beetles leaving the wood, not going in.
Small piles of fine, gritty powder, called frass, under or around the holes are a strong sign that larvae are still active inside.
Edges that crumble when pressed, floorboards that feel spongy, or timber that breaks away easily can mean tunnelling has weakened the wood.
Small brown beetles appearing on windowsills or near timbers in late spring and summer are often adults that have just emerged.
Fresh holes have clean, pale edges and bright wood inside. Old holes look dark and dirty. Many period homes have old, inactive woodworm that needs no treatment at all.
By far the most common cause of woodworm in UK homes. It attacks softwood and the outer sapwood of hardwoods, including floorboards, joists, roof timbers, plywood and furniture, leaving holes of 1 to 2mm.
Found mainly in old oak and other hardwoods in historic buildings, usually where timber is damp and already decaying. Its exit holes are larger, around 3mm, and adults make a tapping sound in spring.
These attack timber that’s already damp and affected by rot, such as the ends of joists and skirting boards against wet walls. Their presence usually points to a damp problem that needs fixing first.
Small beetles on the windowsill aren’t always woodworm. Carpet beetles are common indoors too and do very different damage. If you’re not sure, send us a photo. For those, see our carpet beetle control service.
Left untreated, an active infestation can weaken joists, floorboards and roof timbers over the years, leading to costly repairs.
Treating old, inactive woodworm is a waste of money, while missing an active infestation can be expensive. A proper inspection tells you which you have.
Woodworm thrives in damp timber. Without finding and dealing with the source of the moisture, treatment alone won’t solve the problem.
Shop-bought products only treat the timber you can reach and see. Larvae may be hidden under floorboards, in roof voids or in joists. If bats use your roof space, they’re protected by law, and any timber treatment there has to follow strict rules.
Call us or use the form on this page. Tell us where you’ve found holes or dust, and send a photo if you can. If you call, we’ll take the details and send you a follow-up form through our booking system, then talk you through your options and what happens next.
We identify the type of beetle, check whether the infestation is active or historic, and see how far it has spread through floorboards, joists, roof timbers and furniture. We also look for the damp conditions that encourage it. Commercial sites get a full professional survey before any treatment plan is agreed.
If treatment is needed, we plan it around the timbers affected, the type of property and who uses it, including children and pets, and any wildlife in the roof space. We explain what we’re doing and why, and what you need to do before and after.
Treating the beetles is only half the job. We point out the damp, poor ventilation or leaks that made the timber attractive, so you can put them right and stop woodworm coming back. Where timber is badly weakened, we’ll tell you if it needs repairing or replacing.
After treatment, domestic customers get a follow-up to check everything has been resolved. For landlords, estates and commercial properties, we offer service agreements with regular inspections.
We price each job once we’ve seen it. The main factors are the type of beetle, how much timber is affected, where it is (a single piece of furniture, a room, the whole loft), how easy it is to access, and whether floorboards need lifting. If the woodworm turns out to be old and inactive, we’ll tell you, and you won’t pay for treatment you don’t need.
Our team has over 30 years of combined experience, including BPCA-certified professionals and a Fellow of the RSPH. Every technician is qualified to at least Level 2.
High-end food manufacturers rely on us to meet strict BRC and AIB audit standards. We bring the same care to period homes, barns and listed buildings.
Plenty of old houses have historic woodworm that’s long gone. If yours is inactive, we’ll say so rather than sell you a treatment.
We arrive in unmarked vehicles, which helps when a house is on the market.
We look at why the timber became attractive in the first place, so the problem doesn’t return.
Fix leaks, blocked gutters and rising damp promptly. Dry timber is far less attractive to wood-boring beetles.
Keep airbricks clear and make sure lofts and underfloor spaces are well ventilated, so moisture doesn’t build up in the timbers.
Look for fresh holes and dust before bringing old furniture, tools or timber into the house, and check your loft and floorboards every few years.
Look for fresh, pale-edged holes and small piles of fine dust around them, especially after spring and summer. Dark, dirty holes with no dust are usually old and inactive.
It isn’t harmful to people, but an active infestation can weaken floorboards, joists and roof timbers over time, so it shouldn’t be ignored.
Woodworm is common in older properties and often treatable. The key question is whether it’s active and how much damage has been done. A home buyer pest survey gives you the facts before you commit.
Yes. Adult beetles can fly and lay eggs in other timber, which is why infested furniture and timbers should be dealt with early.
Usually not, as most policies exclude gradual damage caused by insects. Check your own policy to be sure.
We’ll explain any precautions before we start, such as keeping pets and children out of treated areas until they’re dry.
It depends on the type of beetle, how much timber is affected and how easy it is to reach. We give you a clear quote after the inspection, and we won’t treat woodworm that isn’t active.
We treat woodworm in homes, period properties and businesses across Wiltshire and the borders of Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire, including:
Swindon, Bath, Salisbury, Chippenham, Andover, Trowbridge, Devizes, Frome, Warminster, Melksham, Shaftesbury, Calne, Marlborough, Corsham, Westbury, Amesbury.
– WHAT WE TREAT –
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