Timber treatment

Damp and timber problems go together. Where walls and floors stay wet, you get woodworm, wet rot or dry rot, and left alone they spread into structural timber. We identify which one you have, treat it, and deal with the moisture that caused it so it doesn’t return.

Treating the timber without fixing the damp is a waste of money. The two jobs belong together.

Woodworm

Woodworm is the larvae of wood-boring beetles eating through timber. The signs are small round exit holes, fine powdery dust (frass) beneath them, and weakened or crumbling wood. Active infestations need treating; old, inactive ones often don’t, and a survey tells you which you’re looking at before you pay for treatment you don’t need.

Wet rot

Wet rot is the most common timber decay and stays where the damp is. Affected wood goes soft, dark and spongy, and may crack along the grain. It’s usually found in skirting, floor joists, window frames and anywhere water has been getting in. Fix the moisture, replace badly decayed timber, treat the rest, and it’s resolved.

Dry rot

Dry rot is the serious one. It’s a fungus that can travel through masonry and spread well beyond the original damp, which is why it needs dealing with quickly. Signs include a musty mushroom smell, rust-red spore dust, and fine grey strands or a fungal growth across timber or walls. We treat the outbreak, remove affected material, and cut off the moisture feeding it.

How we treat it

After the survey, treatment follows the same logic every time:

1. Find and fix the moisture source, whether that’s rising or penetrating damp, a leak or poor ventilation.
2. Remove timber that’s too far gone.
3. Treat the surrounding timber to stop the problem returning.

What it costs

Timber treatment varies widely with the extent of decay and access, so the survey is where you get a real figure. Our cost guide sets out how damp and timber work is priced.

Common questions

Do I need to treat old woodworm holes? Not if the infestation is inactive. We check for activity before recommending anything.

Is dry rot really that serious? It can spread through masonry and reach sound timber, so it’s worth acting on promptly. Caught early it’s very manageable.

Spotted holes, soft wood or a musty smell? Book a free survey and we’ll identify it.