Wooden beams

[Sparky]

I have two questions to ask about wood beams in the house.

I’ve recently moved in to a house of which the oldest part is going back to the 19th century and I don’t know if the wooden beams have been woodworm treated. They don’t seem to be crumbling so I guess it must have been but how do I check?

Also in the bedroom downstairs (after so much rain we’ve recently had) I’ve noticed white mould forming on the beams. What do I do? Humidifier, wash with vinegar/bleach solution or get a company in to work its magic?

 

[Toby Newell]

1. Photos.
2. DEhumidifier.
3. I have never, ever applied any woodworm killer to any beams, and I have seen and worked on a few hundred in my time.

99% of worm damage is historic but efflorescence after rain indicates you might have a water ingress problem.

Rather than liberally coat your living space with Class 1 carcinogens I would concentrate on finding the source of water intrusion and remedying that. Once solved there will be no viable environment for pest (they prefer RH>12%)

A dehumidifier might be useful, as is a sticking plaster, but solving the water coming in issue is the solution.

 

[Toby Newell]

There is a super knowledgeable pest guy (Matt, he did his thesis on wood boring insects) and a damp expert, but I haven't seen any posts from the damp guy recently. I'm pretty sure sorting any possible water ingress is the priority, hopefully others will chime in with more helpful advice (they will probably request more information)

 

[Sparky]

I have two questions to ask about wood beams in the house.

I’ve recently moved in to a house of which the oldest part is going back to the 19th century and I don’t know if the wooden beams have been woodworm treated. They don’t seem to be crumbling so I guess it must have been but how do I check?

Also in the bedroom downstairs (after so much rain we’ve recently had) I’ve noticed white mould forming on the beams. What do I do? Humidifier, wash with vinegar/bleach solution or get a company in to work its magic?

There is a super knowledgeable pest guy (Matt, he did his thesis on wood boring insects) and a damp expert, but I haven't seen any posts from the damp guy recently. I'm pretty sure sorting any possible water ingress is the priority, hopefully others will chime in with more helpful advice (they will probably request more information)

Thank you. We have a roofer coming to make sure there are no leaks etc….

Any other advice is alway gratefully received

 

[Toby Newell]

Thank you. We have a roofer coming to make sure there are no leaks etc….

Any other advice is alway gratefully received

Great. Get second opinions. In the list of rogues roofers are up there with plumbers, landscapers and tree surgeons, hopefully you get a good one. Good ones are often diamond geezers. Good luck.

 

[Matt Green]

I don’t know if the wooden beams have been woodworm treated.

You can't check if they have been treated or not but it would be a lucky house indeed that would have avoided it for that long. If you are not seeing bore dust from fresh exit holes and the beam bearings are dry, I would not lose any sleep over it.

 

[Sparky]

Thank you

 

[Toby Newell]

You can't check if they have been treated or not but it would be a lucky house indeed that would have avoided it for that long. If you are not seeing bore dust from fresh exit holes and the beam bearings are dry, I would not lose any sleep over it.

If I ever saw a period beam with no worm damage anywhere, I would suspect it was not period...

 

[johncraig8229]

I once had an issue where a hot tap got left on in my home and i came back and the humidity had create mould everywhere we ended up getting massive humidifiers in and they honestly cleared so much of the mould, so I would deffo recommend that

 

[Matt Green]

If I ever saw a period beam with no worm damage anywhere, I would suspect it was not period...

Avoided treatment for beetles; rather than had avoided the attention of the beetles themselves.

 

[Toby Newell]

I had to read that thricely.

Maybe somewhat surprisingly, due to my working alongside their former and in some cases current residences, I don't appear to have any woodworm galleries of my own.