Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: I have a rental house built in 1934 with hardwood floors throughout. There are several places throughout the house where there are dark spots or what appear to be small gouges at or near where the nails are. Is this caused by termites?
Termite Damage & Post Hole Beetles
Here are the handful of questions about termites and other bugs that damage wood floors from over the years. Or enhance them? If you like that bug eaten look for your reclaimed floor!
Damage in floor board in old house may have been by wood beetle
Q: I have an older house with a garage underneath. All of our floors are hardwood. The room directly above the garage has one board that has hollowed out damage on either end that we just discovered as it sort of crushed. None of the other boards show any signs of damage.
Is there a possibility that some of that wood may still have active termites?
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.
Looks like something has burrowed in
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?
Small holes appearing over the past several months
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 have termites or some other infestation in that plank.
Termites at several places in the fascia board
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.
Could we use wood, (termite) damaged side up, as flooring?
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 damaged wood, damaged side up, as flooring with a heavy varathane finish, or would it create problems?
Two termite damaged boards
Q: There are two lines of what appears to be termite damage, on just two floor boards. Can I just use wood filler for these?
Termite damage in crawl space
Q: I recently inspected a 50 year old house with original red oak flooring. We found extensive termite damage in crawl space. 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?
Termite Damage Pictures from a Recent Flooring Job
Pictures of termite damage from the bottom up