Serious woodworm help needed

[CatM]

We were looking to insert a socket in our hallway wall and we found a patch of woodworm that looked quite worrying.



It seemed reckless to ignore it so we exposed the rest of the lower wall and the results are terrifying me



We’re going to spray and then reinforce the wall but now I’m worried about the rest of the house. Should we open up other walls to double check or better to wait and see what develops?

We bought the house about 3 years ago. There’s a cellar beneath which was very damp when we moved in so we’ve stopped the leak into there.

Any suggestions on next steps? My instinct is telling me to check the wall on the other side of the hallway and hope this was just one isolated wall…!!

 

[CatM]

The last photo didn’t initially upload. There are two almost hollow beams and two that are badly damaged. Fortunately there are two by the front door still in tact.

 

[Cubist]

Is this a timber frame house or is this an internal wall in a masonry built house?

 

[Kearn]

Context is essential here, construction, internal and external finishes and images. Where in the building?
What age?
External finish has lath and lime, has it also had a sand and cement coat and patch paint?

What I would say, is hold your horses - you’ve already removed original laths and early chalk rich hairy lime. Don’t destroy any more of this original, and dry fabric. Just get the modern plasterboard and gypsum skim off.

That level of damage does not appear overnight, and would need a very constant flow of significant water. Chances are it is not recent. Is it damp or just dry and crumbly. What smell hit you when you opened things up?

Spraying is entirely pointless and only damaging to you and your family.

what was the cellar leak?

 

[skierhughes]

Totally agree with Kearns on don't spray and do your best to preserve all original and old materials the best you can.

The woodworm's biggest enemy is dry wood. Once you have it all dry you'll get rid of the worm.

 

[Kearn]

Is this a timber frame house or is this an internal wall in a masonry built house?

Just spotted the cables running through, my guess would be internal partition, lath on both sides.