Woodworm treatment in Utrecht: first find out what is going on
Woodworm is really the larva of a beetle. The larvae live inside the timber for years, eating their way through the fibres. Only as adult beetles do they bore their way out, usually in late spring and summer. So what you see are the exit holes: by then the work inside has already been done.
- small round holes of one to two millimetres: the common furniture beetle
- larger, oval holes in softwood, often in the roof timbers: possibly the house longhorn beetle
- fresh, pale bore dust under or next to the holes
- wood that feels soft or crumbly when you press it
Active or old? That decides the approach
Not every hole needs treating. In old buildings the tunnels are often decades old and the beetles long gone. Sharp edges, pale bore dust that reappears after vacuuming and new holes all point to activity. Dark, weathered holes without fresh dust are usually old.
A simple test: cover the holes with paper or tape in spring and check after the summer for new openings. During the inspection we also assess moisture levels, because woodworm thrives in damp timber. A wet crawl space or a leaking gutter is often the reason an infestation stays active.
Our woodworm treatment for beams, floors and furniture
If the infestation is active, we tailor the woodworm treatment to the type of timber and its location. Beams and floorboards are treated with a suitable product, applied into the exit holes and tunnels or injected into the wood. A certified pest controller knows which product suits which structure. If parts of a beam are so weakened that they can no longer bear loads, we advise bringing in a carpenter or builder.
Individual pieces of furniture can sometimes be treated separately, so the problem does not spread to other items. For our approach to other pests, see the main page on pest control in Utrecht.
What you can do about woodworm yourself
A bottle of woodworm killer from the DIY shop often fails to reach larvae deep inside a thick beam. What you can do is keep the wood dry. Ventilate the crawl space and loft, have leaks repaired, and do not store old furniture in a damp cellar or shed.
- Check second-hand furniture for holes and dust before bringing it indoors.
- Lay a sheet of black paper under the holes so fresh dust stands out.
- Take photos of the holes for the inspection.
In a crawl space with woodworm in the joists, we sometimes also find signs of rodents. If so, read about mouse control as well.
House longhorn, death-watch beetle and other wood borers
Besides the common furniture beetle, two other species are worth knowing about. The house longhorn beetle lives in softwood, for example in roof structures and loft beams. Its larvae are bigger and can seriously weaken a beam from the inside while little shows on the surface.
The death-watch beetle is found mainly in old oak that is or has been damp, such as beam ends resting in an outside wall. An infestation by either species needs careful assessment, because load-bearing timber may be involved. If in doubt, do not open up the structure yourself; have it looked at first.
