Four bedroom 1930s semi on S.Coast - woodworm

John_Pierpoint

No panic but a recently bought house with suspended ground floor has evidence of woodworm.

Fortunately it is possible to crawl under the ground floor to inspect joists and floorboards.

So if next spring demonstrates that the woodworm in these timbers is still active. What is a ball park figure for getting these ground floor timbers sprayed for damp & woodworm.

£..........???

The alternative is to dress up as a spaceman and slide underneath the floor with several gallons of fluid, making sure to then go away for a long weekend, with the electricity turned off ?

dampdaveski

John.
A good test is to tape paper against the offending areas to see if any holes magically appear during the 'active' season you also want to be looking for any holes that look really fresh and clean inside and of course any dust coming out of the holes. If you do see any dust and can get some between your fingers it should fell ever so slightly girtty when you rub your fingers together.

If treatments were required I would guesstimate (depending where you are in the country) and assuming the house is for instance a moderate 1930's 3 bed semi anything between £400 - £700

If you do it yourself use a water based insecticide (virtually no smells) but yes make sure you isolate the electrics and cover over any junction boxes
You can google - wykamol, triton, safegaurd, N virol, sovereign they all do insecticides which are much the same (i'm sure the reps would say theirs are the best though! )

Good luck with it
DD

keystone

Once the holes appear the little blighters have gone anyway. So it depends if its a recent infestation of much older. You may find that your mortgage and/or insurance people might kick-off if they found out (however remote the possibility) that you'd DIYd the job if it needs doing that is.

Best thing is to get a couple of quotes.

Cheers