OK, so the holes in timber are flight holes but....

[inwood]

.....how do the little blighters get in there in the first place?

Everything I've read about woodworm says that the holes in timber aren't where the woodworm enters the timber but are flight holes from the woodworm leaving. So how does the lifecycle of the woodworm work?

 

[biffvernon]

Adult beetle, with wings, flies about till it spots sutibale wood, then lays eggs in cracks and crevices. Eggs hatch and tiny lava eats it's way into wood. You don't see this 'cos it's tiny. Lava spends year or two munching and growing before pupating and then emerging through flight hole as a new adult.

 

[Matt Green]

By woodworm, do you mean furniture beetle?

Furniture beetle develop in 2-3 years, development is anything up to 10 years for Deathwatch beetle. Weevils can go through 2 cycles a year, powderpost anything from 1-2 years.

'Woodworm' is a horrible term.

The Woodworm Problem and/or The Insect Factor in Wood Decay by Norman Hickin are worth reading for anything like this.


Matt

 

[worms]

tiny lava

Biff, since you (quite rightly) corrected me when I once got my lathes and laths mixed up, can I just point out that unless your beams are made of petrified wood, you are more likely to have a larva (pl. larvae) than lava in the cracks...

Where are the Edants when we need them?

 

[Penners]

you are more likely to have a larva (pl. larvae) than lava in the cracks...

That's certainly not true where I live.

P. Edant
51 Centurion's Parade
Pompeii

 

[dragonfly]

Hey, matt perhaps you could give me some advice too. In our original valuation survey, evidence of woodboring beetle was pointed out and a retention of about £1000 put on the mortgage against this being treated. Having now had a raft of paperwork back from the solicitor, we have a copy of info relating to spraying that was arried out in 1983, with a 20 year guarantee. Haven't got it in front of me but it did mention the roof space and taking up floorboards at 5 foot intervals for spraying, paying particular attention to joist ends etc. So my question is, if this was all done in 1983, would a wholesale spraying of the roofspace and 1st floor still be necessary, which is what the 'expert' said in the quotte we had which went to the mortgage company. It's just that if the carpets and loft insulation have all got to come up for the work to be done, I'll do it before we move in. From memory the only evidence of active beetle was signs of frass around the loft hatch.

Cheers

 

[Penners]

spraying that was carried out in 1983, with a 20 year guarantee.

Well, that's no good, is it?

The furniture beetles will have b*ggered off when the spraying was carried out, then returned when the guarantee expired in 2003. They may be Common Furniture Beetles, but they're not stupid you know.

 

[Matt Green]

Hey, matt perhaps you could give me some advice too. In our original valuation survey, evidence of woodboring beetle was pointed out and a retention of about £1000 put on the mortgage against this being treated. Having now had a raft of paperwork back from the solicitor, we have a copy of info relating to spraying that was arried out in 1983, with a 20 year guarantee. Haven't got it in front of me but it did mention the roof space and taking up floorboards at 5 foot intervals for spraying, paying particular attention to joist ends etc.

The reason they want to pay special attention to the joists ends is that those bearing into external walls are the most susceptible areas to furniture beetle attack. They are most suceptible because they will have the highest moisture content due to uptake from the surrounding masonry. Furniture beetle needs a raised moisture content to attack timber >18% and it's possible. Even then they will only attack the outer, sapwood, parts of any timber members unless the timber has been wet for ages of modified by fungal attack, neither of which is likley if the roof is watertight and dry.

So my question is, if this was all done in 1983, would a wholesale spraying of the roofspace and 1st floor still be necessary,

It wasn't necessary then, in all probability. As long as the roof is sound the odds of attack are slim for the reasons above. It's easy to give a guarantee that furniture beetle wont attack dry timber as long the house is well maintained (i.e: kept dry). The insects' own ecology guarantees that.

which is what the 'expert' said in the quotte we had which went to the mortgage company. It's just that if the carpets and loft insulation have all got to come up for the work to be done, I'll do it before we move in. From memory the only evidence of active beetle was signs of frass around the loft hatch.

Cheers

....the surveyor found evidence of furniture beetle around the loft hatch you say....

Furniture beetle eat damp sapwood. Joiners use the worst in offcuts to form the hatch. Hatches are cold spots of the ceiling and absorb more water from the atmosphere.

Brush treat the loft hatch with any commercial 'woodworm' killer (something with permethrin will do). Clean the timbers off with a brush or vaccuum. Get an INDEPENDENT opinion on the state of the timbers. Present it to your mortgage company.

Should do the trick.



Matt

 

[dragonfly]

Thanks Matt

so who would be considered independent? The company that makes it's money from treating 'woodworm' or the 'independent' surveyor? I am very confused!!

 

[PC]

Matts Independent why not use him?

PC

 

[Matt Green]

The treatment guys are not especially likely to give you an objective opinion on the state of your loft timbers. The surveyor should offer an independent opinion, but unfortunately the one you got would rather you consulted a salesman than take the liability for the condition of the roof.

Find someone who will give you a report on the condition of the roof timbers without trying to sell you something, be they an independent timber decay specialist or a RICS surveyor with a knowledge of period properties.


Matt

 

[dragonfly]

cheers for all the advice. Will put it to hubby. Am sure I will be back soon :wink: