Wood Boring Infestation, help?

jackf_2

We've just recieved a survey on what we can only describe as our dream house. They've picked up a couple of points that we weren't surprised about but most worrying is that on the flooring between the lounge and the cellar are wood boring insects. I'm a FTB and I've no experience in this sort of thing. It's a 120 year old mid terrance house, can this an expensive job to get fixed?

Many thanks for your input

Jack

House_owner

Get another independent survey done - we got told there was wood boring insect in our roof timbers - but the other independent surveyor we had out said there was none - we have now lived here 8 years and have had no problems with the roof timbers.

If there really is a problem, then reduce your offer to the house seller to reflect the cost.

motherofstudents

Yes, make sure you get someone who is independent to check this out for you ie, you have to pay them. They will be able to tell you what needs doing if anything. It may be that there was an infestation but they have gone (leaving holes).

googler

Either the surveyor saw the insects themselves, or saw the evidence of their presence in the form of holes in the wood. It should be clear from his wording which applies.

If the holes were made sometime in the past, but no evidence of insects at present, then you need to establish if the current or previous owners had remedial work done. The answer to this will determine whether or not it's a factor in negotiations.

If the insects are currently at work on the timbers, you need to either get the current owner to have remedial work done by a specialist, or factor in the cost of you getting it done into negotiations.

eddddy

Was this a survey in relation to your mortgage?

If so, the Bank/BSoc may make it a condition of the mortgage that you get it treated. If it were me, I might just agree to do whatever the bank asked (assuming it is not too expensive) and try to negotiate a reduction in the sale price to compensate.

You will have no trouble finding lots of timber treatment companies who are willing to give you free quotes. (look in yellow pages/google)

As others suggest, a specialist independent surveyor may determine that it is an old infestation and no further treatment is necessary - but then you have to convince a mortgage administrator at the bank that their surveyor was wrong. (The administrator at the bank will have no understanding of building matters, and in any case will not have the authority to override the surveyor's recommendation.)

If the survey is not related to your mortgage, you can certainly get an independent specialist surveyor - but as he/she is independent, you will have to pay their fee. And just because they're independent doesn't mean they're any good. I used an independant specialist damp surveyor some time ago (who came with glowing references). I showed his report to a proper chartered building surveyor, who said that the damp surveyor's recommendations would have resulted in more damp damage to the building, rather than less.

G_M

The beetles live in (usually) sap wood - ie not fully dried out. When they mature, they burrow out leaving holes. And leave.

As the wood ages (5 years +) the sap dries out so the beetle will not return.

Often surveyors see the holes and think "Beetle!" It goes into their report!

You need to establish if there are actually live, active beetle there.

If there are, spraying the property takes a day with the property being empty for several days. Cost? £1000?

You'd also need to ensure the extent of damage done by the beetle hadn'e compromised the strength of the timber, but only horrendously extensive damage would do this.

More here.

iheartbristol

Our surveyor found evidence of them under the stairs, turns out the previous owners had it treated (plus 35 year guarantee on the work) so no worries needed there. It may well have already been treated.

G_M

iheartbristol wrote: »

Our surveyor found evidence of them under the stairs, turns out the previous owners had it treated (plus 35 year guarantee on the work) so no worries needed there. It may well have already been treated.

That's exactly the problem. Surveors often see holes and investigate no further.

But their resultant report scares everyone silly.

Mayflower10cat

We had something very similar when we bought our current 100 yr plus cottage. Fearing the worst after a structural survey, we got several builders in to quote for a various bits of remedial work the survey threw up. We had to smile in a relieved fashion when we were told, realistically, by a really local builder, chuckling slightly, that 'if you DIDN'T have evidence of woodworm etc., you'd be the ONLY house in the village...!!!' We've since replaced some floor joists when we had our new oak floor fitted, mainly because you may as well, when the floor is up anyway. We've also stopped fretting about the 'damp' readings in a few outside (solid) walls - a path had been laid with no runoff for water etc., and along the front wall of the cottage, to look pretty, a new border had been made which trapped water thanks to the concrete path. We've excavated all of this, laid gravel against the house with pots on top, improved the drainage dramatically and now, we can see the improvement in these simple steps. Easier and cheaper than a chemical injected DPC and more in keeping with the fabric of the house.

If you love the house, BUY IT and lavish your love upon it....