England · Scotland · Wales
Woodworm Treatment You Can Trust
Surveyed, guaranteed eradication of wood-boring beetle for homes, landlords and commercial property — the most effective woodworm killer is the right treatment matched to the species and timber type, with a 30-year guarantee.
- Free, no-obligation survey from a qualified surveyor
- Honest diagnosis — we tell you if it's active or historic
- 30-year guarantee and written treatment certificate
Get your free quote
Tell us what you've noticed and where. A local woodworm surveyor will call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation survey.
- 30-year guarantee
- Free no-obligation surveys
- Insurance-backed work
- PCA-standard treatments
- 2,500+ jobs completed
The problem
What woodworm is — and why prompt treatment matters
"Woodworm" is not a worm at all. It is the catch-all name for the larvae of several wood-boring beetles that lay their eggs on or just under the surface of timber. The grubs hatch and tunnel through the wood — sometimes for three or four years — feeding as they go, before chewing their way out as adult beetles and leaving the small round exit holes most people recognise.
By far the most common culprit in UK homes is the common furniture beetle, responsible for roughly 75% of all cases. It favours the cool, slightly damp softwood found in suspended floors, roof spaces and under-stairs cupboards. Less common but more serious species, such as the death watch beetle in old oak, behave differently and need a different approach — which is exactly why correct identification comes first.
Prompt treatment matters because an active infestation does not stand still. Each generation of beetles lays more eggs, and the tunnelling steadily removes wood from the inside of joists, rafters and floorboards. Caught early, woodworm is straightforward and inexpensive to treat. Left for years, it can weaken structural timber to the point where boards flex, joist ends fail and sections need replacing rather than simply treating. It can also turn up on a buyer's survey and stall a sale. The good news: with the right diagnosis and treatment, woodworm is entirely beatable.
How it works
How professional woodworm treatment works
Professional treatment works because it targets the larvae living inside the timber and creates a barrier that kills emerging beetles before they can breed again. The method we use is matched to the species, the timber and the severity — there is no one-size-fits-all tin.
Insecticidal spray
Water-based permethrin spray — the standard professional treatment for active common furniture beetle in accessible floor, roof and joinery timber. Touch-dry in hours.
Learn more →Boron gel & paste
Deep-penetrating boron gel and paste for structural timber, joist ends and damp or hard-to-reach wood, where a surface spray cannot reach the heart of the section.
Learn more →Fumigation & fogging
Targeted fogging and whole-property approaches for widespread or repeat infestations, or where access to individual timbers is restricted.
Learn more →Structural timber repair
When beetle damage has gone structural, we splice, resin-repair or replace affected joists, rafters and beams so the timber is sound as well as treated.
Learn more →Our process
From free survey to 30-year guarantee
Three clear steps, one specialist team — no pressure, no surprises on the day.
Free survey
A qualified surveyor visits, identifies the beetle species and confirms whether the infestation is active or historic — at no cost to most homeowners. You receive a fixed written quote, not an estimate over the phone.
Targeted treatment
We treat the affected timber with the right method for the situation — water-based spray, boron paste, fogging or structural repair — with dust sheets down and minimal disruption. Most homes are completed in a single day.
30-year guarantee
You receive a written treatment certificate and a 30-year guarantee on the treated timber — documentation that is genuinely useful for mortgage surveys, sales and your own peace of mind.
What it costs
What does woodworm treatment cost?
Cost depends on three things: how much timber is affected, how easy it is to reach, and whether any wood needs repairing as well as treating. Most homeowners are not looking at a single fixed figure but a range that the survey then pins down precisely.
As a guide, treating a single garage starts from around £200+VAT and a roof space from around £400+VAT. A suspended timber floor typically runs £200–£600+VAT depending on size and access, while a whole-house treatment usually falls somewhere between £500 and £3,000. Every job includes a free survey, a fixed written quote and the 30-year guarantee, so the number you agree is the number you pay.
- Single garage
- from £200+VAT
- Roof space
- from £400+VAT
- Suspended timber floor
- £200–£600+VAT
- Whole house
- £500–£3,000
Know your enemy
The common UK woodworm species
Correct identification decides the right treatment — and whether you need to worry at all. These are the two species we see most often; the full guide covers six.
Common furniture beetle
Anobium punctatum
Around three quarters of all UK cases. Neat 1–2mm round exit holes in softwood floor and roof timber, on a 3–4 year lifecycle.
Death watch beetle
Xestobium rufovillosum
A hardwood specialist found in old oak and historic buildings. Larger 3mm holes, slow to develop and structurally serious where it takes hold.
Nationwide cover
Where we work
We cover England, Scotland and Wales, with local surveyors based in and around these cities. Wherever you are, the survey, the treatment and the guarantee are the same.
Why choose us
Specialist treatment, done properly
We are timber treatment specialists, not a general pest-control firm that also dabbles in woodworm. Our surveyors follow the standards set by the Property Care Association, and we would always rather tell you an infestation is historic and needs no work than sell you a treatment you do not need.
- 30-year guarantee
- Free no-obligation surveys
- Insurance-backed work
- PCA-standard treatments
- 2,500+ jobs completed
- Guarantee on treated timber
- 30yr
- Jobs completed across the UK
- 12,000+
- No-obligation surveys
- Free
- Most homes treated in a single visit
- 1 day
Guarantee on treated timber
Jobs completed across the UK
No-obligation surveys
Most homes treated in a single visit
Understanding the problem
What causes woodworm in timber?
Woodworm is not a worm — it is the larval stage of wood-boring beetles. The female lays her eggs in cracks, joints and rough timber surfaces. When the eggs hatch, the grub burrows in and feeds for three to four years before pupating and emerging as an adult beetle through the familiar small round exit hole. Those holes are the last thing that happens, not the first — by the time you see them, the damage has already been done from the inside.
Beetles choose certain timber for specific reasons: damp conditions (moisture content above 18%), sapwood-rich softwood, old unfinished timber, poor ventilation and cool dark spaces such as lofts, sub-floors and cellars all make a property more inviting. Understanding whether an infestation is still active or simply historic is the critical first step — read our guide to active vs historic woodworm to know what to look for.
Prevention focuses on removing the conditions beetles need: reduce damp, ensure adequate ventilation under floors and in roof spaces, treat bare timber with varnish or paint and inspect regularly. But once an active infestation is confirmed, professional treatment is the only reliable solution. Book a free survey to get an expert diagnosis, or get a quote if you already know what you are dealing with.
Woodworm treatment — your questions answered
What is the best treatment for woodworm?
How much does woodworm treatment cost?
How long does woodworm treatment take?
Do I always need professional treatment?
Is the treatment safe for my family and pets?
Do you offer a guarantee, and do you cover my area?
When is the best time to treat woodworm?
Where can I buy woodworm killer spray in the UK?
Get rid of woodworm — for good
Book a free survey today. Fixed written quote, BPCA-trained technicians and a 30-year guarantee on treated timber.
Request your free survey
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