What's the first sign of woodworm in a UK home?

Fresh round exit holes 1–2mm wide in a piece of timber, with pale 'frass' (wood dust) underneath, is the everyday opener.

How do I know it's woodworm and not something else?

Woodworm are most often mistaken for powder post beetle. Fresh, pale frass means active woodworm. Grey, compacted frass usually means a historic infestation that's already gone.

When does a woodworm sighting become urgent?

Holes appearing in load-bearing timbers (joists, lintels, roof trusses) — these need a structural survey alongside treatment.

Where do woodworm usually nest or hide?

Inside the timber itself. Larvae spend 2–5 years tunnelling inside the timber before emerging as adults — which is why a survey assesses age and activity, not just hole count.

Do I need to leave my home during woodworm treatment?

For most woodworm treatments, no. Woodworm treatment is a survey followed by targeted treatment and a follow-up visit, and the operator will brief you on any short re-entry window before they start.

Are woodworm treatments safe around children and pets?

Yes. UK-licensed operators use products approved for domestic use and will brief you on short re-entry windows. Woodworm protocols are designed around occupied homes, not empty buildings.

Do woodworm treatments come with a guarantee?

Standard woodworm jobs carry a 30-day guarantee; established cases usually 60–90 days. Any return visit inside the window is at no extra cost.

◉ Specimen · Ref WOODWORM · Severity 4/5

Woodworm
in UK homes.

Woodworm are one of the more frequently reported pests in UK homes, particularly from spring through autumn. UK populations are well documented. A licensed operator will identify the species on site and tailor treatment accordingly. Severity 4–5 ratings mean treatment is usually booked same-day rather than scheduled across the week.

Severity

4/5

Typical UK cost£300 – £1,500

Woodworm — clinical reference photograph — Reference · WoodwormRef · WOODWORM

◉ 01 — Identify

Is it actually
woodworm?

Misidentification is the single biggest reason woodworm treatments fail — the wrong species means the wrong product, and the problem comes back. Use the checks below before you call anyone, and photograph anything you're unsure about so the operator can confirm from your booking screen.

01Repeated sightings in the same room
02Droppings, smears or shed skins near food or warmth
03Damage to packaging, fabric or timber
04Activity at the same time each day

◉ 02 — Evidence

Signs of woodworm.

◉ EV-01

Round exit holes and pale frass

Round flight holes 1–2mm in diameter, often on the underside of timbers. Fresh frass is the colour of the timber underneath; old frass goes grey.

WhereWhat to look for

◉ EV-02

Rare ticking in heavy infestations

Deathwatch beetle (one of the species included under 'woodworm') makes a faint ticking from inside structural timbers — rare in modern UK homes, common in older oak frames.

WhereWhen you'll hear it

◉ EV-03

No reliable woodworm odour

Damp timber smells — but that's the conditions that allow woodworm, not the beetles themselves.

WhereWhere the smell sits

◉ EV-04

Structural weakening of joists and floorboards

Floorboards that flex underfoot more than they used to, hollow-sounding joist ends, and visible tunnelling where a board has been lifted.

WhereDamage pattern

◉ Full sign-by-sign woodworm guide →

◉ 03 — Why it happens

Why woodworm are here.

Woodworm are opportunists. Warm, undisturbed voids with food access — kitchens, lofts, sub-floors and outbuildings. The trigger is almost always a combination of food access, warmth, and a quiet entry point — and seasonal pressure (spring through autumn) tips the scales. Once a population establishes, it rarely retreats on its own; intervention shortens the cycle from months to days.

◉ Biology

UK populations are well documented. A licensed operator will identify the species on site and tailor treatment accordingly.

◉ 04 — Treatment options

How to get rid
of woodworm.

Standard woodworm treatment is a survey followed by targeted treatment and a follow-up visit. DIY can suppress activity briefly but rarely clears an established population. The break-even point against DIY usually arrives at the second piece of evidence — a single licensed visit at £300 typically beats three rounds of shop-bought product, and comes with a written guarantee.

◉ 05 — Cost in the UK

£300–£1,500 woodworm removal.

Typical UK pricing for woodworm runs £300–£1,500. The main cost driver is the severity at first survey. London adds roughly 20–30% to these figures and rural postcodes trim 10–15%; the matched-operator screen quotes inclusive of survey, call-out and a 30–90 day guarantee.

Full cost breakdown →

◉ 06 — Prevention

Stop woodworm
coming back.

Proofing is what stops woodworm returning after treatment. The checklist below is what licensed operators include in their post-treatment report; you can run most of it yourself, or have it done at the same visit.

01Seal entry points larger than 6mm
02Remove standing food and water
03Schedule an annual proofing inspection
04Document any recurrence with photos and dates

◉ 07 — Connect

Find a vetted
woodworm specialist.

◉ Or browse by city

◉ 08 — FAQ

Common
questions.

Q01What's the first sign of woodworm in a UK home?: Fresh round exit holes 1–2mm wide in a piece of timber, with pale 'frass' (wood dust) underneath, is the everyday opener.
Q02When are woodworm most active during the day?: Adults emerge May–July. Deathwatch beetle (one of the species included under 'woodworm') makes a faint ticking from inside structural timbers — rare in modern UK homes, common in older oak frames.
Q03How do I know it's woodworm and not something else?: Woodworm are most often mistaken for powder post beetle. Fresh, pale frass means active woodworm. Grey, compacted frass usually means a historic infestation that's already gone.
Q04When does a woodworm sighting become urgent?: Holes appearing in load-bearing timbers (joists, lintels, roof trusses) — these need a structural survey alongside treatment.
Q05Where do woodworm usually nest or hide?: Inside the timber itself. Larvae spend 2–5 years tunnelling inside the timber before emerging as adults — which is why a survey assesses age and activity, not just hole count.
Q06Do I need to leave my home during woodworm treatment?: For most woodworm treatments, no. Woodworm treatment is a survey followed by targeted treatment and a follow-up visit, and the operator will brief you on any short re-entry window before they start.
Q07Are woodworm treatments safe around children and pets?: Yes. UK-licensed operators use products approved for domestic use and will brief you on short re-entry windows. Woodworm protocols are designed around occupied homes, not empty buildings.
Q08Do woodworm treatments come with a guarantee?: Standard woodworm jobs carry a 30-day guarantee; established cases usually 60–90 days. Any return visit inside the window is at no extra cost.