If you’ve found small round holes in your timber, it’s natural to worry, but not all woodworm damage means you have an active problem needing urgent treatment. Many London properties have evidence of old woodworm infestations that were treated years ago or simply died out naturally.
Knowing the difference between active and historic woodworm helps you avoid unnecessary worry and make the right treatment decision. Part of this understanding involves identifying key signs of active vs historic infestations and assessing needed woodworm treatment and property protection methods.
What Makes Woodworms Active or Historic?
Woodworm is the name we give to wood-boring beetle larvae that feed on and infest timber, such as the common furniture beetle. As they eat, they create tiny tunnels and burrow through the wood. These larvae live inside your timber for around three years before they emerge as adult beetles. During this time, they’re causing damage you can’t see.
- An active infestation means this lifecycle is happening right now. At the larval stage, these insects tunnel through your timber and weaken it from the inside.
- Historic woodworm damage is evidence of past activity. Those exit holes stay forever, even after the beetles haven’t been present for years.
This is why it’s important to identify whether you’re dealing with current damage or old damage before investing in treatment.
How to Tell If Woodworm Is Active
Detecting active woodworm infestations means looking for a few specific signs:
Fresh Exit Holes
Freshly made woodworm holes are roughly 2mm across and look round or oval with clean, sharp edges. You’ll often see lighter, fresher timber colour inside the hole if the insects are still active.
Old holes look dusty and worn and have usually darkened to match the timber’s surface. If you’ve lived in your home for several years without seeing new holes appear, the damage is most likely historic.
Bore Dust Around Holes
Frass (the fine, powdery dust that woodworm leaves behind) is one of the clearest signs of active woodworm. Fresh frass looks cream-coloured and feels gritty when you rub it between your fingers. It’s usually found in small piles under affected timber or around fresh exit holes.
If the holes are clean with no frass, the infestation likely finished long ago. Frass can sometimes hide in cupboards or under furniture, though, so thorough checking is important.
Adult Beetles
Between May and October (woodworm season), you might notice adult beetles emerge from the timber in your home. Seeing live, small brown or black beetles crawling on or near wooden surfaces confirms you have an active woodworm.
If you think you have activity but haven’t seen beetles yet, try filling visible exit holes with beeswax during winter. Then, recheck in spring or summer; any new holes are an indicator that the problem is ongoing.
What Does Historic Woodworm Damage Look Like?
Historic woodworms look different from active infestations. You’ll see dusty, dark holes that blend into the timber surface, with no fresh frass or bore dust. No live beetles appear during woodworm season, and the damage stays the same without getting worse over the years.
Many older properties, especially Victorian and Edwardian London homes, show historic woodworm damage. Effective treatments done decades ago halt further damage; those existing holes stay as permanent reminders, meaning your property doesn’t need treatment again unless a new sign of woodworm beetles starts.
Why the Difference Matters
It matters whether current woodworm activity is occurring or it’s signs of past issues. Unnecessary treatment wastes money and causes disruption you don’t need. Active woodworm in your home, however, can cause serious structural damage over time by weakening beams, floorboards, and furniture.
These beetles are often attracted to properties with high humidity or damp, which gives them the perfect conditions to thrive. If your woodworm is historic, that timber has already survived the infestation, and the structural damage has stopped.
Should You Get Professional Help?
Understandably, dealing with potential woodworms can be stressful. It’s always worth getting expert advice if you’re unsure whether your woodworm is active or historic, especially since it can impact your structural timbers and property value.
Help is available without pressure. Should you seek it, our experienced surveyors use electronic moisture detection equipment to assess timber condition thoroughly. We look at not just the visible damage but the conditions underneath that allowed woodworms to thrive. If timber has high moisture content, even historic damage suggests you might face future problems.
Each woodworm species needs different treatment, so proper identification matters. Our surveys cover everything from identifying the beetle species to checking moisture levels and working out how much damage there is.
Professional Woodworm Treatment With Refresh PSC
Refresh PSC has over 30 years of experience identifying active woodworm and guiding treatment throughout London and the South East. We’ll test for clear indicators of what’s happening, whether treatment is required, and what it would cost, so you can make an informed decision.
Our expert team doesn’t recommend expensive treatment when a woodworm is inactive. If minor repairs by a local handyman or DIY treatment can be done, we’ll let you know. Should you need woodworm treatment, we tackle the infestation and any moisture problems that attracted the beetles initially. Our approach includes removing and replacing timber where necessary, applying specialist treatments to affected areas, and controlling wetness with damp proofing to avoid future problems.
All our timber treatments come with GPI insurance-backed guarantees for complete peace of mind. To speak to one of our woodworm and timber specialists, contact us today or fill out our no-obligation online survey. We’ll help you understand what you’re dealing with and how to future-proof your property for longevity.
