Woodworm - replace floorboards or not?

Hiya,

Have had two firms out to check woodworm in my floorboards. One recommends treatment and a reinforcement of one weak floorboard. The other recommends treatment and replacing around half the floorboards. Does anyone have any tips on what I could look for in the floorboards to make a decision on which firms recommendation might be best? Obviously don't want to pay money to replace ok floorboards, but also don't want to leave unsafe floorboards!

N

Hiya,

 

Have had two firms out to check woodworm in my floorboards. One recommends treatment and a reinforcement of one weak floorboard. The other recommends treatment and replacing around half the floorboards. Does anyone have any tips on what I could look for in the floorboards to make a decision on which firms recommendation might be best? Obviously don't want to pay money to replace ok floorboards, but also don't want to leave unsafe floorboards!

 

N

Why don't you treat it with Cuprinol 5 star that kills woodworm and prevents rot? I would treat it with this stuff and replace any boards that have been weakened myself= http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/cuprinol-five-star-complete-wood-treatment?gclid=CjwKCAjwk4vMBRAgEiwA4ftLs0EAcz2GvG2vGvMSlLPvPjVOQ2tF2fRUweOKY6sT9dUxjoD5_A7PYRoCb0YQAvD_BwE

Why don't you treat it with Cuprinol 5 star that kills woodworm and prevents rot? I would treat it with this stuff and replace any boards that have been weakened myself= http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/cuprinol-five-star-complete-wood-treatment?gclid=CjwKCAjwk4vMBRAgEiwA4ftLs0EAcz2GvG2vGvMSlLPvPjVOQ2tF2fRUweOKY6sT9dUxjoD5_A7PYRoCb0YQAvD_BwE

Thanks.

How would I tell if the floorboards are weakened? If I give them a good shove from underneath they feel pretty solid to me, but maybe there's more to it than that?

Hiya,

 

Have had two firms out to check woodworm in my floorboards. One recommends treatment and a reinforcement of one weak floorboard. The other recommends treatment and replacing around half the floorboards. Does anyone have any tips on what I could look for in the floorboards to make a decision on which firms recommendation might be best? Obviously don't want to pay money to replace ok floorboards, but also don't want to leave unsafe floorboards!

 

N

Are both firms testing for woodworm and doing the job of replacing them? Sounds like a conflict of interest. Could you get a specialist just to do a survey?

Thanks.

 

How would I tell if the floorboards are weakened? If I give them a good shove from underneath they feel pretty solid to me, but maybe there's more to it than that?

If they are riddled with holes then they probably need testing for weakness however if you have caught the infestation early and there are not then they may be ok.

Get a couple of people to jump on the floor and see if if collapses!

Seriously though I have used Cuprinol on woodworm before and it does what it says on the tin.

I put it into a pump action garden sprayer and spray it on the infected area myself instead of brushing it on and it works out cheaper to buy 5 litre tubs off the internet.

The area needs to be ventilated and the smell does go once it's dry....

If they are riddled with holes then they probably need testing for weakness however if you have caught the infestation early and there are not then they may be ok.

Get a couple of people to jump on the floor and see if if collapses!

.

Pretty sure I could do that and nothing would happen. Have given most of them a good shove from underneath and there is very little give. Also barely any floorboards have many little holes in, which is why I question the diagnosis of replacing them (especially given firm 2 said they were fine). Most of the holes and frass is on one or two joists.

Pretty sure I could do that and nothing would happen. Have given most of them a good shove from underneath and there is very little give. Also barely any floorboards have many little holes in, which is why I question the diagnosis of replacing them (especially given firm 2 said they were fine). Most of the holes and frass is on one or two joists.

I would give them a treatment with Cuprinol a few times using the spray method and then just keep an eye on them for the next few months...

Are both firms testing for woodworm and doing the job of replacing them? Sounds like a conflict of interest. Could you get a specialist just to do a survey?

Yes both firms quoted for the work. The one suggesting to replace the floor is a well known national firm, the other is a local firm which seems to do general building work, but advertises to deal with specialist damp/woodworm issues. I'm more inclined to believe the local firm, as they suggested less work needs doing and the surveyor is also a builder. I wonder if the national firm surveyors are just really salesman on commission as a few have suggested!

I could get an independent survey, but as far as I understand (from google) that would cost 200-300 anyway, so would not save much money compared to the costs of the woodworm treatment (if I don't have any flooring replaced).