More Woodworm?

[martin1018]

Hello All,

I was hoping for some advice on the subject of woodworm infestation please.

I live in a 3 bedroom house built in 1935 which has wooden floorboards on joists. When we purchased the property in 1988 we had a full survey done which identified woodworm, as a result of which we had a specialists survey done and the property was fully treated by them (roof joists, ground and first floor floorboards and joists) for woodworm. The treatment came with a 30 year guarantee.

This last week I've been doing some electrical work on the ground floor, which necessitated lifting floor boards and grovelling around under the floor. Whilst doing so I lifted one particular piece of floorboard in the corner of the room and a large-ish section of the joist crumbled away. Even to my unexperienced eyes I could tell that there was evidence of woodworm.

On contacting the company which did the work - more for advice than to claim - all they would do was send me a claim form. On reading this I have to pay over £75 just for them to check the matter. Whilst this sum is refunded if there is a reinfestation, if they say it's old damage prior to the treatment they did 19 years ago, there is nothing I can do (I don't think) to refute this, and I loose the £75.

Dear readers, (thank you for sticking with it this far!) my questions are as follows
1 - Is it likely that the little beasties have managed to survive and cause further damage?
2 - How can I tell if it is new damage or old, pre-treatment damage?
3 - If I decide not to get the treatment firm in, how much joist and how much floorboard area should I replace?

I have read the other post on woodworm and shall, if I do the work rather than claim, do the DIY option mentioned, so thank you from me for that advice.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted the full facts available for anyone who may be able to help.

Thanking you in advance for any help.

[big-all]

if the woodworm is active youll get fresh dust

now in my humble opinion [although i don't know ] its going to be old dammage with perhaps a bit off wet or dry rot thrown in

why not just go for a couple quotes for "infection " and see what they say but not from the origional company

[Jaeger_S2k]

if the woodworm is active youll get fresh dust

now in my humble opinion [although i don't know ] its going to be old dammage with perhaps a bit off wet or dry rot thrown in

why not just go for a couple quotes for "infection " and see what they say but not from the origional company

Fresh dust is the tell tail!

The rest, great advice!

[martin1018]

Thank you Gentlemen (Sorry to be so sexist but I presume you are males of the species!! )

Many thanks for the replies, just the bit about the fresh dust was sufficient to confirm my thoughts that this was a fresh outbreak / infestation / whatever!
It was also enough for me to risk the £75 on calling out the original contractor to come out and check it, hoping that they will be trustworthy enough to admit that its new and will repay the money.

Thanks again guys (more sexism ), I'll let you know the outcome.

[dirtydeeds]

you forgot to apologise for species stereotyping

im sure not all woodworm are bad

ouch, ive committed sexism on woodworm, there must be male and female woodworm