Name: Woodworm treatment
Brand: Able Group

Professional Woodworm treatment

The tell-tale sign of a woodworm infestation is lots of small holes across your furniture or timbers and in the worst cases, the timber will be so damaged that it needs replacing. If you’re looking to identify and fix a woodworm problem, trust in Able Group’s woodworm treatment services.

Choosing Able Group for your woodworm treatment

Able Group’s expert woodworm treatment can handle all your woodworm problems efficiently and will assess your woodworm situation, so any infestation is treated as quickly as possible. We’ll help identify if the problem has spread and deliver a solution that targets woodworm.

Able Group - your experts for woodworm treatment

Fast response

When you need woodworm treatment, and quickly, Able Group is ready to help. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week getting to you between 30 and 90 minutes* of your call.

No call out charge

As a company, we feel it is wrong to charge a call-out fee. And you always get our professional woodworm treatment at a fair and competitive price.

Pay on completion

When you use our woodworm treatment service, you only pay after the initial treatment and you’re happy with the service.

Accredited

All Able pest controllers are fully trained in the use of pesticides and accredited to RSPH standards as a minimum. Able is also accredited by Chas Elite and Safe Contractor.

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Identifying a woodworm infestation

There are some clear signs that you need our advice on effective woodworm treatment.

Woodworm is a collective name given to the larvae of wood-boring beetles. The beetles themselves feed on pollen, but when their larvae hatch, they immediately burrow through timber, feeding on the wood. The larvae will continue to tunnel and feed for between two and five years. As they become adults, they will burrow back to the surface.

Woodworm don’t spread disease to humans but can cause severe damage to furniture or a property’s timber structures. In the worst cases, the timber is like a ‘swiss cheese’ and the structural integrity has gone entirely, with replacement being the only option.

Woodworm infestations are hard to spot because the larvae feed deep inside the timber, existing for on average 3 years before pupating and leaving. It’s often the roughly 3mm exit holes left by emerging adult beetles that are the most obvious signs of an infestation. Another sign is frass – the dust left behind by the beetle as it bores outwards. You might also see beetles, dead or alive, where there is an infestation.

Controlling woodworm infestations

There are DIY options available, but the only way to be sure the problem is treated in its entirety is to call our team for proper advice on the correct woodworm treatment. We can discuss your situation and give you an idea of the problem and a basic quote there and then.

Depending on the circumstances, we’ll use one of two methods. A water-based insecticide minimises exposure to people, pets and the environment. The solution will remain within the layers of the timber, cracks, crevices and flight holes long-term to prevent any future infestations from becoming established. Our treatment also helps in treating fungal decay.

We might also use a gas fumigant with the active ingredient Sulfuryl Fluoride. This effectively eliminates all life stages of wood-boring insect infestations.

Handling a woodworm problem

Fast Action

Once you spot the signs of an infestation the chances are that it’s not new and the larvae have been in place for a couple of years. As soon as the adults emerge, they will start the cycle again. So, if you think you have an infestation, call our professional woodworm treatment team fast.

Treatment

Don’t search for ‘woodworm treatment near me’ - Able’s specialists deliver the right treatment for your specific problem. Our woodworm treatment service uses a water-based insecticide or gas fumigation, depending on the nature of your infestation. If you’re concerned about woodworm treatment cost, know that Able Group services are always competitively priced.

General maintenance

Keeping humidity down and ventilating your property is an effective way of keeping woodworm at bay. Woodworms thrive in environments where dampness is an issue. Filling in any gaps and cracks will also remove any attractive routes to your timbers. Be sure to inspect any older furniture before bringing it into your property.

Woodworm Control Experts

Signs of a woodworm infestation

Woodworm infestations often go unnoticed until the damage is significant. Key signs include small, round holes (approximately 2-3mm) in wooden surfaces, left by adult beetles as they emerge. You may also find fine, powdery dust known as frass near the holes, a result of larvae tunnelling through the timber. Other signs include weakened or crumbling wood, and in some cases, dead or live beetles in the affected area. Prompt action is vital if you notice these indicators.

Woodworm seasonality

Woodworms are most active during the warmer months, typically between spring and late summer when adult beetles emerge to mate and lay eggs. However, their larvae remain active year-round, feeding on wood from within and causing damage regardless of the season. Even though the signs may be more visible in summer, infestations can progress silently throughout the year.

Treating woodworm infestations

Effective woodworm treatment starts with a professional assessment to identify the extent of the problem. Water-based insecticides are commonly used to treat the timber, penetrating cracks and crevices to eliminate larvae and prevent future infestations. For severe cases, fumigation may be required to ensure all life stages are eradicated. In some instances, heavily damaged timber may need to be replaced. Acting quickly ensures the infestation doesn’t spread further, saving time and money on repairs.

Ongoing prevention

Preventing woodworm involves maintaining a dry, well-ventilated property, as damp conditions encourage infestations. Regularly inspect wooden furniture, flooring, and beams for early signs of damage, especially in high-risk areas like basements or lofts. Seal cracks and gaps to reduce access points for beetles and thoroughly inspect older or second-hand furniture before bringing it into your home.

The four most common types of UK woodworm

Common Furniture Beetle

This is the most commonly found woodworm in the UK. It's usually active from April to September in the south and from May to September in the north. The adult common furniture beetle produces flight holes approximately one to two millimetres in diameter.

Death Watch Beetle

A dark brown beetle with a reddish tinge that prefers hardwood, especially oak. It's known for the tapping or ticking sound it makes to attract mates. This beetle produces flight holes of approximately 2-3mm in diameter.

House Longhorn Beetle

A dark brown or black beetle with long antennae that prefers damp or decaying softwood, especially pine and spruce. The House Longhorn beetle can reach 25mm long and has flight holes that are oval and up to 6 - 10mm in length.

Powder Post Beetle

A red or brown-coloured beetle, the Lyctid powder post beetle, the variety found in the UK, attacks only wood products manufactured from hardwood trees such as oak, ash, walnut, hickory, poplar or cherry - the female can easily fit her eggs into the wood’s pores. Exit holes are around 1-2mm in diameter.