Will Painting Furniture Help Eliminate Woodworm Problem?

Woodworms are one of the more annoying pests because they can damage and in time destroy furnishings made of wood.

The woodworm boars its way inside the wood leaving dust particles behind which is the telltale sign that this pest is present.

Once inside the wood, it continues to create holes and lays its eggs. Meaning you have even more worms to contend with.

Many people who see the damage caused by woodworms may not fully understand what is happening.

They often resort to using wood putty to fill the holes and then paint or varnish over the surface.

But the truth is painting in and of itself does not kill woodworms completely. Nor does a standard oil or latex paint prevent woodworms from coming back.

You, therefore, need a product such as Ronseal Woodworm Killer to rid your wood furnishings of the pest for good.

And you can use this best woodworm killer in addition to painting the wood which will help protect the furniture better.

Signs of Woodworm in Furniture

Woodworms are not commonly explained and often people do not take the time to understand their impact.

This is counterproductive considering the fact that woodworm can do so much damage, especially in older homes.

Older furniture, in general, is more susceptible.

Even worse, antiques can be damaged quickly and seriously if they are not properly guarded or treated in a timely manner.

By knowing the signs of woodworm, however, homeowners can make sure that they call the proper resources the minute they notice that a problem is too big to handle.

Beetle carcasses and milky larvae often signal woodworm, as well as tiny holes that are punctured in wooden surfaces.

What Are They Attracted To?

Woodworms are attracted, first and foremost, to rooms with improper ventilation.

The environment, whether it is damp or dry, is the biggest indicator of woodworm presence.

The other things that can bring woodworm and other wood borers (like common furniture beetle, Deathwatch beetle, Powderpost beetles, Bark beetles, and Longhorn beetle) are old and brittle furniture or nearby activity.

Antiques are old and can be more susceptible to woodworm because they are more conducive to dryness and stale parts.

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How Can Ronseal Woodworm Killer Help?

Ronseal Woodworm Killer is an insecticide designed to kill woodworms, their larvae, and even their eggs.

The product is designed to stop woodworms in their tracks when they have penetrated the surface.

It can be used on any furnishing, skirting board, floorboards, attic and other products made from wood.

In addition to killing the woodworms quickly, it can also prevent them from coming back. It’s something that regular paint cannot do.

Another advantage is that the product has a small amount of odor, so taking the wood item outside, treating it with the woodworm killer, and letting it dry should take care of what little odor is generated.

How it is Used?

Ronseal Woodworm Killer is designed to be used on interior woods.

This means you should use them on any wood that is not exposed to UV rays or the elements.

Particularly this product works best on untreated wood. You simply need to clean, apply the product, and let it dry.

The untreated surface will quickly soak up the insecticide fast without you worrying about the woodworm’s infestation.

But what if the item has been treated?

Use the following steps as you would for untreated wood.

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How to Treat Woodworm in Painted Wood?

Once you have found that the furniture in your home is infected by woodworms, it’s good to treat the wood as soon as possible.

For killing the woodworms in the already painted/varnished wood, you will need to start by placing the item in an open, well-ventilated area.

Step 1 – Clean & Dry

The first step is to clean the item thoroughly so that it is free of dust and debris.

You can also remove any stains from the item as well at this time.

Step 2 – Remove the Paint or Varnish

Once you have cleaned it, the next step is letting it fully dry before you remove the varnish or paint that covers the surface.

Sanding is generally the most effective method of removing varnish or paint.

You’ll want to remove all of it so it can be repainted or varnished again when completed.

Step 3 – Shake, Pour, & Brush

Now that the item is ready, prepare a place where you can do the work. Preferably outdoors or with plenty of ventilation.

Shake up the can of woodworm killer (Ronseal, Cuprinol, or Permagard).

Pour the recommended amount into a container, and brush the entire surface.

You’ll want to cover all the ends, joints, and faces to ensure complete coverage.

Pay attention to areas where woodworms like to enter such as the corners, crevices, and end grains.

Step 4 – Dry & Apply Two More Coats

It takes about two hours for the first coat to dry.

Once it has completely dried, apply a second coat to the surface just like you did the first.

Let it dry and repeat with a third coat for maximum effect.

Step 5 – Repair, Varnish, or Paint

Once the third coat has completely dried, you can now carry out any repairs on the item if needed.

Afterward, you can now prepare the surface to add a coat of varnish or paint if you desire.

This is because the woodworm killer has fully penetrated the surface and killed the worms inside.

Your repairs to the wood should consist of filling the small holes made by the woodworms with wood putty. Now you can stain, paint, or varnish the surface.

Because the woodworm insecticide is trapped and protected inside, it will continue to kill any woodworms that make their way past the stain, varnish, or paint.

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How to Prevent Woodworm Damage in Furniture?

Prevention is key rather than treatment, but not all of us take the necessary steps to avoid future problem once it is fixed.

If you have just fixed the woodworm problem in your home, here are some tips you can follow to prevent another possible outbreak…

• Keep your property well ventilated
• Maintain proper temperature and humidity
• Test the humidity of damp structural timbers and floorboards
• Be extra vigilant during the season when woodworms are most active (usually between April and September)

These prevention techniques should be applied in force to antique furniture, especially those that have personal or sentimental value.

If this is done, the issue should never get so bad that items are completely ruined.  

Will applying oil finish to wood furniture help?

Depending on the type of wood, the furniture oil when applied properly can offer very effective protection to the wooden surface in addition to an elegant sheen.

But keep in mind, you cannot use them for all conditions. There are situations when it is beneficial to oil, while there are situations when you shouldn’t.   

For instance, you should first keep in mind the present condition of the wood furniture.

If it is already painted, varnished, or coated you should not use furniture oil over it because it may fail to penetrate into.

If that’s the case, there are several alternatives to oil finishing. You can try them out for better protection.

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When to Get Rid of Damaged Timber or Home Furniture?

The techniques used to get rid of and prevent woodworm are varied and often simple.

If these methods are employed, woodworms are much less likely to enter homes or infect surfaces.

But if you have a serious infestation problem in your building, I recommend the removal of all the severely infested furniture pieces and non-structural timbers.

Damaged wood furniture that starts to crumble or break off when you touch or handle them is a sign you need to get rid of them.

If you do not remove them, home supports and accents, as well as foundations, can be harmed so much that they need to be replaced for fear that they will collapse.

With that said, you do not necessarily need to cut away and replace all the damaged pieces in your home – maybe you can fix them after assessing them closely.

Woodworms are typically found on the upper layers of the infected wood.

Which means they will generally not touch and leave the surrounding layers of the wood.

Plus, the infestation will also depend on the type of woodworm that has attacked your furniture, deck, or wooden patios.

Try to carefully access them inside the wood layers.

And if that’s the case, you can surely fix them up using the most cost-effective wood treatments and solutions.

The Bottom Line

Woodworm can be a real issue that bothers homes, and taking care of it is in the interest of all homeowners.

If woodworms end up getting into homes regardless, homeowners should deploy the above techniques like repairing, treating, and painting the furniture.

Products such as Ronseal Woodworm Killer and Ronseal 3-in-1 Mould Killer can be of great help when you want to treat the damaged furniture rather than throwing it away.  

In situations where woodworm is so bad that it can seriously affect homes, professional services will need to be utilized before you can paint on woodworm treatment.

These services make use of tools that are more advanced, efficient, and can solve the problem of woodworm much quicker than homeowners can.