Found woodworm?
If you think you’ve found woodworm then this short video may help you. Our surveyor shows you a heavy infestation by the Common Furniture Beetle Anobium punctatum in old plywood kitchen cupboard doors.
Woodworm loves old casein glued plywood. The glue contains nutrients and is non-toxic. Unlike modern formaldehyde glue, which is a real deterrent to woodworm.
In the video the plywood can be seen up close and has been destroyed by woodworm, even though the painted surface appears sound. Treatment is not an option because the timber has been destroyed. However, even in light infestations plywood is very hard to treat effectively. The laminated nature tends to inhibit penetration of the insecticides and although the infestation will be killed gradually, by contact when they emerge, damage will continue very fast in the interim.
From a timber and damp surveying perspective, our surveyor points out that when old plywood is present, care must be taken to inspect it thoroughly. This material may be present in cupboards, shelving and used as fixing boards for old electricity fuse boxes and as infill panels in stair spandrels and timber linings. These items are cheap to replace. However they may work as a breeding ground for woodworm, so a very detailed timber survey of the property is essential. The woodworm could be present in floors, roof timbers and staircases too.
If you think you’d found woodworm or if you need a qualified and experienced timber surveyor please call us for helpful and free advice on Leeds 265 2752 York 566577 or Sheffield 224 5121 or email us via our contact page
The rest of our web site is goldmine of information about woodworm. However the following blog post is also a great way of digging into this subject – if you think you may have found woodworm, try the post below from our Technical Director’s PreservationExpert blog.
Common Furniture Beetle (woodworm), infestation; Quick guide for consumers and surveyors too.
