Q: I bought some “no warranty” wood from a popular wood flooring store. It was advertised as damaged w/ split, knots, damaged grooves and burns. I bought 15% extra for waste. I’ve noticed that some pieces have obvious termite damage. Should I be concerned? Is there a possibility that some of that wood may still [...]
Termite Damage & Post Hole Beetles
May 272011
Q: We have laid an oak hardwood in our living room. We notice some areas with a little residue, where it looks like something has burrowed in it. What would be causing this and can we fix it? Is there a bug that burrows in wood floors? A: Something burrowed into your floor? Does it [...]
Q: I’ve got a new construction home in Dallas. My family room has solid oak flooring over slab. In one plank are small holes appearing over the past several months that are about the size of a medium sized nail head with what appears to be saw dust surrounding it. My guess is that I [...]
Small holes appearing over the past several months
May 26, 2011
Termite Damage & Post Hole Beetles Comments Off
Q: I live in Southern California where the fires are. Last week while having the fascia board and under-eaves painted, I discovered there are termites at several places in the fascia board and in the rafters. I had 2 different POCs inspect the house and they both concluded that the house has termite problem. The [...]
Termites at several places in the fascia board
May 26, 2011
Termite Damage & Post Hole Beetles Comments Off
Q: I have some old 1×12 pine paneling that I am going to use as flooring with a varathane finish. We are going to do some distressing to it. My question is: Some of the wood on the side we will use has termite damage. There is no termite activity. Could we use this termite [...]
Could we use wood, (termite) damaged side up, as flooring?
May 20, 2011
Termite Damage & Post Hole Beetles Comments Off
Jul 232008
There are two lines of what appears to be termite damage, on just two floor boards. Can I just use wood filler for these?
Feb 052007
I recently inspected a 50 year old house with original red oak flooring. Extensive termite damage was found in the crawlspace. Some of the 1×6 pine subfloor was severely damaged (crumbling). Except for a few small areas the finished oak floor was in good condition. What is the best way to repair/replace the subfloor? Do we have to tear up the finish oak? Can the repair be done from underneath in 2-4 ft.height crawlspace? Do we need new subfloor between the 1 1/2inch floor joist and the finish oak? Can we just sister on ledger strips to the existing floor joist (treated) and add new subfloor between the floor joist?
Pictures of termite damage from the bottom up: Larger Picture Termite damage pictures of the surface*: Larger Picture *It is possible to have termite damage, yet not see holes forming on the surface. See the articles we link to below for other signs of termite infestation. The “leftovers” (wood residue, dirt, and excrement), which covered [...]
Nov 152006
The wood floor in the home I purchased is about 20 years old. There are multiple places where the wood has simply “collapsed” as though there were a thin top layer of wood with space underneath that caved in/broke through, holes following the grain from 1/16 x 2 to 1/2 x 3 inch in size, and in most cases definitely not from loosened knots. The floor appears to be quite an amateur job, and I wondered if it could be simply poor quality wood, or termites, or some other problem. I simply cannot imagine a solid wooden plank caving in!
Sep 272006
After removing carpet on a 60 year old floor in an 11×17 room, about 15 slats show slight to severe old termite damage. I have had to call the exterminator in the past, but not for a couple of years. I plan on carpeting again, my question is: must the whole floor be ripped up, or can just the 15-20 slats be replaced?
Jul 302005
I would like to know how to repair a hardwood floor that has been damaged in places by termites. The floor is over 40 years old and was covered by carpet until recently. There are only a few boards that appear to be damaged. Can individual boards be removed and replaced?
