Just like the term ‘rising damp’, ‘woodworm is something that no homeowner wants to hear.

Yet burying your head in the sand is the last thing you should be doing. Woodworm is a problem which, if left untreated, can cause significant damage to your roof. Woodworm affects a huge number of properties not just in Glasgow but across Scotland. It is difficult to accurately record how many homes suffer from woodworm as so many homeowners are simply unaware of the problem or do not report it but should you spot signs of woodworm in your roof and the wooden trusses and sarking, you need to act quickly to prevent it from spreading.

What to look out for

You can check for woodworm yourself though if you are in doubt, you should always consult with a roofing specialist like ourselves who can carry out a roof inspection for you.

When checking for woodworm, you should always wear protective clothing such as a dust mask and gloves. What you are looking for is small exit holes in the timber joists of your roof. If there is woodworm present, you will be able to see these small holes. The size of the holes depends on what type of species of woodworm has infected your roof but in Scotland, the woodworm exit holes will be anywhere from 2mm to 5mm in diameter.

These exit holes do not represent woodworm that has left and that the problem has gone away. Woodworm have a lifecycle of 3-5 years and it is only at the end of this lifespan that they actually exit the wooden timber as beetles. In that time, they will have laid larvae inside the wood that will begin a new life cycle.

Beyond the exit holes, you can also detect evidence of woodworm in your roof through something called frass. Frass is essentially woodworm waste and looks like wood shavings that have a light colour. Frass is one of the best ways of finding out what type of species of woodworm has infested your roof.

What to do if you have woodworm?

If is not advisable to leave woodworm untreated. Not treating woodworm in your roof will only lead to the problem becoming worse, infecting more wooden trusses and sarking in your roof which will cost even more in repairs down the line. The sooner the problem is dealt with, the cheaper it will be. Speed is key to minimising damage to your roof.

Calling the roofing professionals

We are one of the leading local roofing contractors in Scotland with nearly 40 years of service across the central belt of Scotland. From roofing repairs to dealing with woodworm, we can provide the complete roofing and building maintenance service ranging from traditional roofing repairs to new slate or tile roof fitting and emergency roofing work after storm damage.

Roofing Services

To find out more about our roofing services, please contact us by calling our Glasgow head office on 0141 944 6100