Hello all
We are buying a house and are tantalisingly close to exchange, which is very much welcome as the sale of our current home is fixed for 17th August and we'd very much like to have our onward sale fixed so we can relax into planning the logistics and knowing it will really happen.
Our level 3 building survey was overall fab for a house of this age (1750s) and noted localised signs of woodworm, and recommended specialist to determine whether it is active.
Paid for specialist (pest control service - I now think that was an error) to do their own survey. They sent through a very 'thin' undetailed and unconvincing report suggesting woodworm seen 'throughout' and full cost of treatment will be 1770, but will also require all wood to be stripped back and cladding from loft removed etc to get access. There were 4 photos attached but there was no text explaining what the photos were supposed to show (2 photos were zoomed out of whole rooms?), and no explanation of how extensive the active problem was or whether the treatment was more preventative. When we visited the house we spotted two very old beams with woodworm holes, and those are the same ones the house surveyor noted, and the same ones the pest control survey photographed, which leaves me to presume if they don't provide clearer evidence of active woodworm throughout the property, it is a localised problem, potentially historical, potentially active, but whole house treatment is just upselling.
I've looked into it a bit online, and I can see a lot of period house specialists seem to advise making sure the house is warm and well ventilated, and that it is unlikely to cause structural damange unless a pretty severe infestation. I have seen a lot of advice about monitoring techniques with paper or wax to see how much of it is active. and I have seen that you can buy small quantities of woodworm killer for very little cost and DIY on localised areas.
Also, the treatment itself doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It only works as the new adults emerge - which could be up to 3-5 years from now, and anyway, don't the new adults fly off to lay eggs elsewhere? And didn't I read somewhere that they don't like to lay their eggs on varnished wood? So all the wood that the pest control company want to strip back to chemically spray, shouldn't that be just left varnished/revarnished as a similar sort of protection (ie doesn't kill current population but prevents/reduces reinfestation next cycle?) And I've looked up the chemicals and they do NOT seem nice at all - they are nerve toxins, I'm not keen to have that on the whole house for us to live amongst if not necessary. This house has a LOT of timber.
I'm thinking plan of action: ignore the pest control report, don't hold up the sale about this, perhaps get a second opinion from a timber specialist once we are in, and monitor the woodworm and then if necessary treat it locally, looking to reassess specific areas each time we lift carpets etc over the next few years when decorating.
Is this mad though, to ignore a 1700 estimate and push on with the sale and not plan treatment? I should add, the vendors have been completely unwilling to compromise on anything extra, they see the sale price as a sale price, and are not up for negotiating on it in anyway so far (which is fair enough, it was a good price), so I have the feeling even asking them about this will just p** them off, and we need good will to get this sale through (they are willing, but don't have their own need to rush). Your thoughts are very welcome! Especialyl if you have experience of woodworm or period properties! Thank you!