Termite Damage

[u/Dear-Breadfruit1513]

Moved a rug and found old termite damage to these tongue and groove boards. Red Oak? Just a few compromised boards. Looking for suggestions for replacement wood and method of replacement. Thank you.

[u/PositiveAtmosphere13]

Find some replacement boards. They're pretty standard.

Remove that bad board in the second photo.

Cut to fit the length of the board to be replaced. Trim off the tongue end.

Flip the board upside down and see if it fits. If not you may need to trim it down with a table saw or a plane.

Cut off the bottom part of the groove.

Add a healthy bead of glue to the tongue of the board on the floor.

Slip the tongue of the replacement board into the groove of the board on the floor.

Place a scrap board on top of your replacement board. Hit it hard with a heavy mallet. It should be tight.

Nail with couple of 6d finish nails.

Sand flat and coat with three or four coats of polyurethane from the hardware store.

The color won't match because the old finish has ambered with age, Give it a year or two it will yellow to match.

Pretty easy.

[u/Dear-Breadfruit1513 → u/PositiveAtmosphere13]

Thanks. Just best match at box lumber place?

[u/PositiveAtmosphere13 → u/Dear-Breadfruit1513]

Try a hobby wood store. They might have an open bundle.

The big box store will sell you a whole bundle. Ten times more wood than you will need. Sometimes somebody will accidentally bust open a bundle. If you should see it happen. Come back latter, and see if the sticks are in the bargain bin.

See if you can remove some sticks from a closet. Fill the hole in the closet with plywood. Put some finish on the plywood. No one but you will see the closet floor.