Active woodworm found in survey

[Turnipinatutu]

Our survey report arrived today for the house we're buying.
Some active holes were found in loft, but stairs & floors etc not inspected.
If we get a woodworm specialist in, is he likely to be able to lift carpets etc to check the whole house? What is the inspection likely to cost.

It is a doer upper house and we are planning on converting the loft and redecorating throughout within the first 6 months. But survey suggests getting inspection before exchange.

It's a 1930's semi and the survey also suggests the lath and plaster ceilings are coming to the end of their life. We were planning on skimming over the artex, but will need to replace the ceilings completely now?

[lalalonglegs]

If you're doing it up, I wouldn't let it bother you. The woodworm would have to be bloody active to cause any real damage - I think it's only death watch that is truly a problem and you need quite an infestation. The surveyor would surely have mentioned it if he thought the activity had reached a dangerous level but it's worth checking with him. All you need to do is pull up the carpets when you complete and have it all sprayed. Costs a few hundred depending on size of house, knock it off the price. It's better if you don't live there for a day or two - the chemicals aren't very nice.

Don't know about the lathe and plaster - 1930s isn't that old, I don't know what would have caused them to deteriorate so much (unless it's the woodworm eating away at the battens ). Could there have been water damage that has made them sag? Taking down ceilings is a horrible job but not an especially difficult one, then you just put up some plasterboard and skim. Get the artex tested first for asbestos.

[Turnipinatutu]

Thanks for the reply Lala.

I'm not particularly bothered myself, but DH is a bit twitchy.
Surveyor didn't say it was dangerous, but has marked it as needing urgent attention/inspection.

As for the ceilings, they looked fine to me, no obvious cracking etc. but didn't want to just skim over if they are likely to then fall in and need replacing! God I hope the woodworm haven't eaten away the battens! Surely surveyor would have said?!

[lalalonglegs]

I think woodworm go for bigger pieces of wood than the battens you find in lathes. Call the surveyor and ask what he meant by the ceilings bein at the end of their life and how bad he thinks the woodworm is - do any timbers need replacing? If he hedges his bets, get a plasterer to look at ceilings to tell you whether they can be skimmed over.

[PigletJohn]

Worm likes wood that is a bit moist and not freezing. So bathroom floors and next to leaky front doors get it, or near plumbing leaks. Cold lofts usually mostly near the loft hatch where warm sir comes through.

You will have to get it sprayed anyway.

Find and cure any sources of moisture. A centrally heated modern house without condensation and wet washing draped around will probably not get wormy.

The artex will have been put up to hide the cracks. The ceiling will have cracked during the Unpleasantness of 1939/45. If there was water leaking then the nails holding the laths in place will have rusted and the ceiling might only be staying up out of habit.

[Turnipinatutu]

Mmm....there is old water damage to the kitchen ceiling from a leaky hot water cylinder in the bathroom above. This was replaced about 2 years ago.
Surveyor said timbers didn't need replacing, just a few holes that indicated active infestation in loft.
Getting the whole house treated, if needed, should be around £1k I think. Kitchen ceiling is to come down anyway as part of extension.
House isn't damp at all, apart from rotten bits around back door where the door has had it. Again this will all be ripped out as part of extension.
Wonder what other surprises we may be in for once it's empty?