Wood Boring Insects

The Death Watch Beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum)
The death watch beetle is a wood boring beetle, namely a beetle whose larvae are xylophagous. The adult is approximately 7 mm long. The larva can be up to 11 mm long.

They are often found in historic buildings where large quantities of oak or elm have been used structurally. Softwoods are rarely attacked except when they come into contact with infested hardwood. They are found in areas particularly prone to dampness, which is essential for establishment and promoting rapid development. Damage is often extreme in concealed bearing
ends of timbers inserted into damp walls

Wood-boring insects
A number of insects, mainly beetles, are able to use wood as a food source and some of them can cause serious damage to building timbers. These insects all have fairly similar life-cycles, although there are variations in the length in the cycle, the type of wood attacked, and the extent and type of damage caused.

The very urgent dry rot treatment and restoration work that is required
The cause of the water ingress identified by our surveyor is rectified and the drying of the area is commenced. All of the affected timber is carefully removed and disposed of and plaster is removed to beyond the last visible sign of the attack.

The area of the attack is then thoroughly cleaned and sterilized with fungicidal preservatives before replacing all of the affected timber with new pre-treated timber prior to re-plastering. Only the safest chemicals and preservatives from Sovereign Chemicals are used to treat Dry Rot and you will be advised by us what precautions need to be taken.

Our qualified and experienced damp and timber infestation surveyor will establish the significance of the attack and determine, as far as is possible, what timbers are affected. He will locate the cause and the source of the attack and issue a detailed report on his findings together with our recommendations and estimate for carrying out all of the remedial treatment and reinstatement works.

    Property Care Experts in Remedial Treatments