For any householder the mention of woodworm or dry rot will cause a chill in the spine but for owners of flats there are special issues to address and likewise for residents associations and property management companies. Why?
The answer becomes clearer when you understand a little more about the nature of these problems and the risk they pose to property. The name woodworm is the commonly used generic term for a number of species of wood boring insects. These lay their eggs on or in timber and their larvae feed upon and bore through the wood leaving a network of tunnels which in time damage and weaken the structure. After metamorphosis the beetle exits through the familiar flight hole and seeks a mate whereupon the whole life cycle starts again.
Common Furniture Beetle
Responsible for about 75% of all woodwork damage to property, attacking both soft and hard woods. The adult beetle is approx 3 mm long and chocolate brown coloured. It is able to fly. Up to 80 eggs are laid and the life cycle averages 3 years.
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Death Watch Beetle
A particular threat to old buildings, attacking hardwood which has suffered some fungal decay. Larger than the Common Furniture Beetle at 6 to 8 mm long and greyish brown in colour. Its life cycle averages 5 to 6 years.
House Longhorn Beetle
In fact the most damaging species is the House Longhorn Beetle which attacks softwood, roofing timbers for example, and because of its large size causes rapid and severe damage. This is restricted mainly to southern counties - but it is slowly spreading further afield, possibly another result of global warming.
The most serious threat to timber in buildings, however, comes from Wet and Dry Rot. which are forms of fungal decay. Dampness combined with lack of ventilation provides the ideal conditions for growth.
These wood destroying fungi attack timber in order to extract food (cellulose or lignine) to maintain growth and for the generation of spores.
Most household insurance policies specifically exclude these risks of woodworm .
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