Woodworm treatment in Tilburg: what exactly is it?
Woodworm is the common name for the larvae of beetles that live in timber. In Dutch homes it is usually the common furniture beetle. The larvae spend years tunnelling through the wood, invisible from outside. Only when the adult beetle bores its way out does the familiar round hole of one to two millimetres appear.
A second, more serious pest is the house longhorn beetle (huisboktor). It mainly attacks the softwood of roof structures and leaves larger, oval exit holes. Because its larvae can hollow out large sections of a beam, an early diagnosis matters even more with this beetle.
Signs of an active infestation
Holes on their own say little: they may be decades old. Look instead for these signs that the woodworm is still at work:
- fresh, pale bore dust that builds up again after you clean it away
- exit holes with sharp, clean edges rather than dark, weathered ones
- small brown beetles on the windowsill in late spring or summer
- timber that crumbles at the edges or feels soft
Want to be sure? Wipe away the dust, put a sheet of dark paper underneath and check again after a few weeks. If fresh dust has appeared, there is probably still life in the wood.
How our woodworm treatment works
At the inspection we examine beams, floors, stairs and furniture, and keep an eye out for damp in the wood and in the room. We identify the beetle, see how far the damage extends and establish whether it is still active. Old, spent holes do not need treating.
If there is activity, we apply a professional product to and into the affected timber so it reaches the larvae in their tunnels. Loose furniture is treated separately. If a beam is hollowed out to the point where its strength is in doubt, we advise calling in a carpenter or structural engineer, as treatment does not restore lost strength. We also advise on ventilation, because damp wood is far more attractive to the larvae.
What to do, and what not to do
Do not sand, stain or varnish over the holes before there is a diagnosis. You would remove exactly the evidence we need to see whether the woodworm is still active. Do not squirt a general household product into the holes either; it rarely gets deep enough and can discolour the wood.
What does help: move an affected piece of furniture away from other wooden furniture, and make sure the loft and crawl space are well ventilated. If you also find droppings or gnaw marks in the crawl space, mention it so we can look at it during the inspection. You can read more under mouse control.
Antiques, second-hand finds and preventing new damage
A lot of woodworm comes in with old furniture: a chest from a flea market, an antique cupboard from a farmhouse or a chair from your grandparents' loft. Check a piece like that carefully for holes and dust before it comes into the house. If in doubt, have it checked first, before the beetles fly out into your floor or staircase.
For the rest of the house, dry wood is less attractive, so a well-heated, well-ventilated home is the best protection. During the inspection we therefore also look at those conditions, to reduce the risk of fresh damage, as part of our standard approach to pest control in Tilburg.
