Hampshire Damp Proofers
Woodworm Treatment in Romsey, Hampshire

Damp proofing in Romsey

Woodworm Treatment in Romsey

Woodworm treatment in Romsey. Small round exit holes and fine dust in joists, floorboards or roof timbers point to woodworm, which thrives where timber has been damp.

Get a quote in Romsey

A free, no-obligation survey and a written quote.

Free, no-obligation surveys
Fixed written quotes
Cause treated, not the patch
Local, Hampshire-based

Woodworm Treatment

Woodworm Treatment across Romsey

Woodworm treatment in Romsey. Small round exit holes and fine dust in joists, floorboards or roof timbers point to woodworm, which thrives where timber has been damp.

We identify the infestation, treat the affected timber and deal with the damp that let it take hold, so the Romsey property stays sound.

Woodworm Treatment in Romsey
Timber being treated with a preservative spray

What’s included

What woodworm treatment in Romsey covers

Every quote varies depending on the property and what the job needs, but here is what a typical woodworm treatment job in Romsey covers from start to finish.

  • Inspection of affected joists, skirtings and timbers
  • Treatment for woodworm, wet rot or dry rot
  • Cutting out and replacing badly affected wood
  • Application of preservative to protect sound timber
  • Dealing with the damp that caused the problem

How we do it

Woodworm Treatment in Romsey: the process

  1. Step 01

    Inspect

    We identify the type of infestation or rot and how far it has spread.

  2. Step 02

    Deal with the damp

    The moisture feeding the problem is addressed so treatment lasts.

  3. Step 03

    Treat and replace

    Timber is treated, and badly affected sections are cut out and replaced.

  4. Step 04

    Protect

    Sound timber is treated with preservative to guard against a return.

Woodworm treatment in Romsey

Woodworm is the common name for several wood-boring beetles whose larvae tunnel through timber for years before emerging. By the time you see the holes the damage is already done, and the question that matters is whether anything is still living in there.

How to spot woodworm

The classic sign is small round exit holes, roughly one to two millimetres across, in joists, floorboards, roof timbers or furniture. Beneath them you may find frass: fine, gritty dust the colour of the wood itself.

Badly affected timber feels soft at the edges and can crumble where it bears on masonry. In Romsey properties we most often find it in cellar joists, under ground floors and in roof spaces, because those are the places timber stays damp enough for the beetle to thrive.

Woodworm exit holes in structural timber in a Romsey property

Active or historic infestation?

This is the question that decides whether you need treating at all. A good deal of the woodworm we are called to look at in Romsey turns out to be historic: the beetle has been and gone, often decades ago, and the holes are all that is left behind.

Signs of an active infestation are clean, sharp-edged holes showing pale wood inside rather than dark and dusty, fresh frass below them, and live beetles appearing in early summer. We would far rather tell you an infestation is long dead than treat timber that does not need it.

Inspecting timber to confirm whether woodworm is still active

The best woodworm treatment for your timber

The best woodworm treatment is whichever matches the beetle and the state of the wood. For most active common furniture beetle in sound timber, a surface-applied permethrin-based preservative is enough, brushed or sprayed across the affected areas.

Deeper infestations and structural timber may need paste or injected treatment to reach into the section. Where wood has lost strength, treatment alone is not the answer and the affected lengths are cut out and replaced. Either way we deal with the damp that let the beetle in, because dry timber will not sustain an infestation.

Applying preservative during woodworm treatment in Romsey

Woodworm treatment cost in Romsey

Woodworm treatment cost depends on the area to be treated and how much timber needs replacing, rather than on a rate per hole. Treating a single roof space is a modest job. Lifting floors, replacing joist ends and treating throughout is a considerably bigger one.

We survey the Romsey property free of charge, confirm whether the infestation is actually active, and quote in writing before any work starts.

Timber survey and written quote for a Romsey property

Woodworm treatment near you in Romsey

If you have been searching for woodworm treatment near me, we cover SO51 and the villages around Romsey, including Timsbury, Stanbridge Earls, Middle Winterslow, Wick and Netherhampton.

Because woodworm and damp travel together, we look at why the timber was damp in the first place rather than simply treating the surface. Book a free survey and we will tell you whether the infestation is live before quoting to treat it.

Hampshire Damp Proofers treating timber in a local property

Book a free woodworm treatment survey in Romsey

Tell us what you have noticed and we will come out, find the cause and provide you with a written quote with no obligation.

The quote

Woodworm Treatment in Romsey costs

Every property is different, so we quote each Romsey job on its own after a free survey rather than off a description. These are the things that move the figure, and we set it all out in writing before any work starts. The visit is free.

  • The type of problem, woodworm, wet rot or dry rot
  • How far it has spread through the timber
  • How much wood needs replacing
  • Access to floors, roof spaces or skirtings

Common questions

Woodworm Treatment in Romsey: your questions

How much is woodworm treatment?

It depends on the area treated and how much timber needs replacing, not on how many holes you can see. Treating a single roof space is a modest job; lifting floors, replacing joist ends and treating throughout costs considerably more. We survey the Romsey property free of charge and quote in writing before starting.

How long does woodworm treatment last?

A correctly applied preservative protects the treated timber for decades, and our work is guaranteed. What really decides it is moisture: woodworm needs damp timber, so where the damp that attracted the beetle is fixed at the same time, re-infestation is unlikely. Leave the damp and no treatment will hold indefinitely.

Is the woodworm still active?

Not always, and it matters. Clean, sharp-edged holes showing pale wood inside, fresh frass below and beetles appearing in early summer point to a live infestation. Dark, dusty holes with no frass usually mean it has long gone. Our Romsey inspection confirms which before any treatment is recommended.

Do you replace the affected wood?

Where timber in the Romsey property is too far gone we cut it out and replace it, then treat the surrounding sound wood.

How do I know if I have woodworm or rot?

Small round exit holes and fine dust point to woodworm; soft, crumbling or cracked timber points to rot. The survey confirms which it is and how serious it has become.

Is dry rot really that serious?

It can be. Dry rot spreads through damp masonry as well as wood, so it needs treating promptly and thoroughly, along with the damp feeding it.

Will the treatment smell or disrupt the house?

Modern treatments are low-odour and we ventilate as we work. We let you know if any room needs to be kept clear for a short time.

How do you stop woodworm or rot returning?

By curing the damp that let it start. Timber only rots or attracts woodworm when it stays wet, so we deal with the moisture source as part of the job.

Get a quote in Romsey

A free, no-obligation survey and a written quote.

Looking for a service other than Woodworm Treatment in Romsey?

We cover the full range of damp and timber work for Romsey homes:

Not in Romsey? Still looking for Woodworm Treatment near you?

We provide woodworm treatment across Hampshire, including:

We also provide woodworm treatment to: Timsbury, Stanbridge Earls, Middle Winterslow, Wick, Netherhampton

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