treating wood worm

[diyisfree]

I started a bathroom refit today and after removing the bath i discovered very very badly rotten floor joists.

there are small hole's indicating woodworm but i am unsure if this is an old problem or still active.

The timbers are totally shot and i have already cut the outer skin of the outside wall so we can slip new timbers in through the cavity. My question is, how can i tell if this is a live infestation or an old one.

I am surprised the bath isn't in the kitchen because of the state of the joists. Is the treatment a specialist job or something i can purchase and do it myself ?

thanks in advance.

 

[JohnD]

if it's warm and humid, it may still be active (modern dry houses don't often support much live woodworm).

You can get a 5-ltre can of woodwork killer or 5-star treatment for about £25. Apply flowing coats per instructions. If you can ensure that the area is very dry in future, that will probably stop them breeding anyway, but a bathroom floor can often get damp.

If you are installing new timber you can use a preservative rather than a killer, since the new wood will be free of infestation. But old wood will need a killer. i use Cuprinol but there are other good brands like Solignum and Ronson. Treat it outdoors and leave it in the sun to dry for several days as it smells strong. Treat any cut, driled or notched surfaces generously when you install it.

Cuprinol Green treats against Rot and Worm and the new formula does not smell much.

Wear PVC (not rubber) gloves.

 

[diyisfree]

Cheers John,

New timbers were ordered today and will be installed tomorrow along with new floor boards. I was planning on totaly removing all the rotten stuff and using pressure treated timber.

Wheres the best place to obtain the treatments ? I hate going to the likes of B&Q. Do builders merchants sell the stuff ?

 

[Scrit]

My question is, how can i tell if this is a live infestation or an old one.

Frass...... which is the white powder pushed out by the beetle as it emerges. If you've got what appears to be fresh frass around or beneath the timbers (on the top of the old ceiling) then you've got acrtive infestation. Problem is it's not always easy to tell if there;'s frass there in an older house

For Cuprinol why not use B&Q - although many ironmongers sell it as do all the fencing/decking supply firms, and even the garden centres round here.

Scrit

 

[JohnD]

yes, all the best builders use Cuprinol green on construction timber. the colour is so you can see it's been treated. Cut ends are where it often gets forgotten, you have to re-apply to all exposed surfaces.

p.s. if you hoover up all the old dust and frass, it wil be obvious next time someone looks if there is any fresh.

 

[JFC]

Sounds like you have found alot of flight holes , that means they have gone , but who knows where ? maybe into the next room or house .
The general rule is cut 1m past the last flight hole and replace .

 

[joe-90]

Look out for little tiny hard backed black beetles (2mm) in your bathroom. They are the adult furniture beetle (woodworm).

If you use pressure treated timber (as you say) you can forget rot or woodworm.

 

[diyisfree]

cheers guy's

fortunately this isn't MY bathroom. I refit kitchens and bathrooms and it is a job i have started. The full floor is going to be removed because the rot is that bad.

all floor joists and floor boards will be replaced. The house is un-occupied at the moment so i will take a look today and see if the little blighters have been munching else where.