We recently had a loft access hatch fitted and the jointer doing the job commented on some woodworm activity. He couldn’t be sure whether it was ‘live’ current activity or an old dormant infestation.

Does anyone have any ideas what we’d be looking at in terms of cost to have it looked at an possibly treated and is it a possible “do it yourself” job?

I wouldn’t call a woodworm infestation specialist unless you have money to burn – if you do I’ll guarantee they will say it is probably dormant but you’d better treat the loft and then quote you £500 for work and a worthless certificate.

if it bothers you diy it – not difficult, just go and buy the treatment chemicals from nearest diy shed and get on with it.

If it was a problem don’t you think the house would have fallen down years ago?

How old is the house and how dry is the area? Woodworm lay their eggs in damp wood as the larvae need moisture. If the wood has dried out (or you have CH), it’s probably just old holes and the woodworm long since left. Our Victorian house is riddled with holes everywhere, but they’re long since inactive.

The house was built around the 1920s. The timbers and the loft space are very dry, so it could be inactive. I’ll try and keep an eye out of any of the wood dust that tends to accompany live infestations.

Paint over it and see what happens in a few months. Pain intact = inactive.