When you’re buying a property and get a survey completed, you cross your fingers that nothing will show up. However, if you find out there’s woodworm on site, you’ll want to know what to do before you commit to the purchase.
Woodworm can be terrible news… on the other hand it might turn out to be nothing but a minor inconvenience. If your home survey report reveals woodworm, here’s what you need to know…
What is woodworm?
Woodworm is the larval stage of wood-boring insects. Eggs laid on the wood hatch and the larvae burrow, making holes, tunnels and chambers. Eventually, the mature insects will emerge from the holes, lay more eggs and the cycle continues.
It is the larvae rather than the mature insects that cause the real damage: weakening and destroying wood.
There are different kinds of woodworm including:
- Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium Punctatum)
- Death Watch Beetle (Xestobium Rufovillosum)
- Ambrosia Beetle
- Bark Borer (Ernobius Mollis)
- Powder Post Beetle (Lyctus Brunneus)
- House Longhorn (Hylotrupes Bajulus)
- Wharf Borer (Nacerdes Melanura)
Different types of woodworm may prefer different types of wood and leave slightly different ‘calling cards’ but the bottom line is basically the same: you don’t want them in your property!
What does a woodworm look like?
Woodworms are not actually worms at all. In their larval stage, woodworms are creamy-white, 3-20mm long and resemble small caterpillars. When they emerge as fully grown beetles, they are usually small and dark coloured. You may notice them flying around your home or dead on windowsills, etc.
Here is what woodworm damage looks like.
What is the difference between woodworm and termites?
Woodworm and termites both damage wood by making holes, but they are completely different creatures. Sometimes called ‘white ants’, termites are generally pale-coloured, have six legs and straight antennae.
The damage caused by termites is usually much worse than woodworms but fortunately we don’t get termites in the UK.
What are the common signs of woodworm?
It can be very hard to tell that you have a woodworm problem and different insects leave slightly different clues. Rather than asking: “what does a woodworm look like?”, you are better off knowing the tell-tale signs of the damage they cause as this is easier to spot. It’s possible you have an infestation if you notice:
- A mass of tiny holes in the wood
- Floury powder
- Pellet-shaped wood shavings
How do I know if woodworm is still active?
It can be hard to tell if you have a current woodworm problem, or if the damage and holes you’ve found are old and the beetles and larvae long gone. Some tell-tale signs of active woodworm holes include:
- Light coloured wood inside the holes, i.e. a fresh hole
- Holes with sharp edges
- Fresh dust near holes
- Wood breaking away, leaving fresh, light coloured wood underneath
Why is woodworm bad?
Most woodworm make tunnels that are only about 2mm wide, so you might think they can’t cause much of a problem. However, if undetected, woodworm can keep burrowing until wood simply crumbles away. If the infested wood in question is a structural timber, then that can be seriously bad news for a property.
Is woodworm harmful to humans?
Although woodworm can be extremely bad for furniture and wooden structures, it is not directly harmful to humans. However, there are parasites that are linked to woodworm, e.g. Scleroderma domesticum, which can sting humans, leaving a rash.
What causes woodworm and how do you get woodworm?
Wood boring insects generally like damp conditions so you are more likely to have problems in cold, damp houses. Woodworm can be brought into your house on firewood or furniture before spreading to other wood once inside.
Can you hear woodworm?
No, you cannot generally hear woodworms because, for the most part, woodworm is a silent threat.
How does woodworm spread?
Once the woodworm larvae have developed into beetles, these adults burrow out of the wood and fly off to mate and find somewhere to lay their eggs, i.e. a new wood source. Once the eggs hatch into larvae, these bore into the wood and the life cycle (and damage!) continues.
How do you stop woodworm from spreading?
Once you discover you have a problem, alongside woodworm treatment, you’ll want to take steps to stop woodworm from spreading.
- Removing infested furniture is a good first step, although it’s obviously not as easy to remove structural timbers.
- As the beetles like damp conditions, keeping humidity down and ensuring good ventilation are prudent measures.
- Installing fly traps can kill emerging beetles, interrupting the lifecycle and reducing the problem.
How to treat woodworm
It is possible to treat some woodworm infestations yourself, but it’s important to know what kind of woodworm you have before getting started. If you’re not sure about tackling the problem yourself, professional pest control services will be able to help.
Surface treatments
For woodworm that’s only found on small items e.g. furniture, Permethrin-based woodworm products can be sprayed, brushed on or used as a dip. It’s sensible to treat nearby timbers, too, in case the insects have already spread without you realising.
Re-painting or varnishing once the wood is dry will help prevent future outbreaks as woodworm prefer exposed, untreated wood.
Injection treatments
If your problem occurs deeper within the wood, you’ll need to carry out an injection treatment as well as addressing the surface. Drill into the affected area and fill the hole with a specialised paste/gel woodworm treatment.
Can woodworm go away on its own?
The short answer is ‘yes’, it can. If wood is properly dried and the area kept ventilated, woodworm can go away… but it’s a risky assumption that it will. Also, the damage already caused cannot be undone, so it’s worth getting a professional opinion on a) the severity of the damage and b) how to treat woodworm properly.
Should I buy a house with woodworm?
If your survey finds that there’s woodworm present, it could be a reason to walk away from the purchase… but not necessarily. You need to find out the severity of the problem and how to treat woodworm if it’s present so that you can make a fully informed decision.
Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may find you can’t get a mortgage and the decision will be made for you!
You will need a RICS Home Survey Level 2 or Level 3 Building Survey when buying a property as these will highlight signs of woodworm and other damp or timber issues.
What should I do if my home survey finds woodworm?
If your home survey finds woodworm, you need to find out a few more details if you still hope to proceed with the purchase. Get an expert to determine the severity of the problem, what woodworm treatment is necessary, what repairs need to be carried out, and what the cost will be.
Next, you can make your decision:
- Go ahead with the purchase anyway
- Walk away from the purchase
- Ask the seller to arrange professional woodworm treatment before you buy
- Negotiate will the seller on the price of the house, taking into consideration woodworm treatment cost and repair of any damage
Find out more
The prospect of uncovering something like a woodworm infestation can be daunting, but as the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed, and it’s certainly good to know about any issues before you complete a purchase.
Finding out about the problem at pre-contract stage allows you to investigate best next steps and make informed decisions as you go.
If you’d like to arrange a property survey to check for woodworm and other issues before you buy, please get in touch. Our team of experienced Chartered Surveyors will be happy to help.