Woodworm Treatment FAQ's

Woodworm infestation in furniture can be recognised by small round holes on the surface of the timber and the gritty bore-dust that is left behind. These holes are most likely to be found near joints or on the undersides or backs of furniture. If the furniture has a surface coating such as paint or varnish, the thorough advice is to completely strip the furniture by sanding or stripping then treating with a woodworm killer such as Barrettine Premier Woodworm Killer Spray or Cuprinol Woodworm Killer (WB). However, some customers just treat the affected area and re-coat or paint.

Any previous finish such as varnish, stain or paint should be completely removed prior to treating with a woodworm treatment. Once the woodworm treatment has been applied to all areas and allowed to dry, the wood can be re-coated or painted. Some people manage by only removing the paint from the affected area then treating. The potential problem with this is that the woodworm may have penetrated further than the area treated, and the re-finished area may not totally blend in with the old finish.

Active insect attack can be recognised by small round holes on the surface of the timber and small piles of dust.

In some cases, manufacturer's simply call their products different things, either woodworm killer or woodworm treatment. This said, some products are more specific to killing off existing infestations whilst others are geared towards preventing future attack.

If unsure as to whether you have an active infestation or just old woodworm damage, our advice would be to use a woodworm killer first, then a wood preservative after. This will kill off any existing infestations and will also help to protect the wood against future attack. most wood preservatives also protect against mould and algae.

Woodworm won't 'enjoy' being covered in Teak Oil per se but no, Teak oil will not kill woodworm. If you have active woodworm or wood boring insects a woodworm killer such as Barrettine Premier Woodworm Killer or Ronseal Woodworm Killer must be used to eradicate the infestation. Once treated, a suitable wood preservative should be used to help prevent future infestations.

The most common insecticide used to control woodworm is Permethrin though growth inhibitors are used by some manufacturers. Permethrin is found in most woodworm killers.

Typically starting between May & September which is the adult emergence season for Woodworm. The woodworm should be treated as soon as possible to avoid the beetle laying larvae and the lifecycle recurring.

There are several types of woodworm in the UK. All species will be killed with any of the woodworm treatments from our range.

Generally speaking, woodworm do prefer damp wood. A Woodworm treatment should be used to eradicate any existing infestations then a wood preservative to protect against re-infestation, ensuring effective protection for years to come.

Mould needs to be treated separately with a dedicated mould and mildew cleaner. Once all traces of mould have been removed, and the wood has been allowed to dry, a wood oil, varnish, paint or other type of wood finish can be applied to protect the wood and complete the project.

There are many woodworm treatments on the market from different brands. Some are suitable for both interior and exterior use whilst other are formulated for just interior use so take care to select the appropriate one. Most wooden surfaces such as floors, doors, furniture and wooden beams are over-coated once treated with a wood oil, wax, paint or varnish to ensure there is no direct contact with the wood. However, wooden surfaces treated with a woodworm killer are safe for pets and children once the treatment has fully dried.

In terms of smell, this is largely down to if the woodworm treatment is solvent-based or water-based. Solvent based products usually have a high VOC so therefore have a much stronger smell than the water-based equivalents.

Woodworm killers are specifically formulated to kill woodworm, wood boring insects, their larvae and eggs. As long as the woodworm killer is used following the manufacturer’s instructions, the manufacturer’s guarantee that their product will work. Basically, if the larvae are covered then they will die. It's important to treat all areas.

As a preventative treatment, look for a wood preservative that specifically states that it prevents woodworm (some don't). For interior timbers we recommend Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Wood Treatment (WB) which is a low odour water-based formulation. For exterior timbers, we recommend Barrettine Premier Wood Preservative.

To eradicate existing woodworm infestations, we recommend Cuprinol Woodworm Killer (WB) for interior timbers and Barrettine Premier Woodworm Killer for exterior timbers.

Wood boring insects tend to be more active during the warmer months of the year and if you have wood that has been or is impacted by woodworm, one of the best way to tell is by leaving a sheet of paper under the effected wood. If the woodworm is active you will find small piles of wood dust on the paper.

Barrettine Woodworm Killer kills all common insects, including Common Furniture Beetle, House Longhorn Beetle, Powder Post Beetle, wood boring Weevils their larvae and eggs.

Always wear the appropriate, protective clothing and face mask when applying woodworm treatments. The property should be well ventilated during and after application. Drying time from last coat is usually around 6- 8 hours at this time of year but is also dependent on the woodworm treatment being used. The treated wood should be left for 48 hours before applying any top-coat such as a paint, oil or varnish.

Permethrin is not dangerous to humans in these small doses, and you should be able to continue working in the property if required.  This said however, always read the guidelines, instructions and advice given by the manufacturer on the product packaging before use.

Wearing gloves and a mask, decant a woodworm treatment into a suitable container. Lift the floorboards and treat the joists and headers, treat the underneath, top, sides and ends of the floorboards.