Hi, I am new here, so I want to apologize if I mess something up. I have the following problem...
I am restoring a division in my house. It's a high ceilling area, with wooden beams supporting a hardwood floor that divides the space into a dining room (lower) and an office (upper).
My father thought the wood was in good shape, so he replaced the hardwood floor above the beams. Afterward, his plan was to apply protection to prevent woodworms and then oil for the finishing touch. But, upon closer inspection, I noticed all the wooden beams have these small holes (which I suppose are woodworms already).
Also, I knocked on the wood, and it seems hollow.
Should I replace all the wooden beams and then reapply the hardwood floor? Is there any way to recover these beams?
Thanks in advance.
Structurally, the beams may be fine (based on the pic you shared). It's also possible that those holes have been there since the beginning.
Are you wanting to recover them aesthetically? Are there any signs of active infestation?
I would leave them as is, assuming they are exposed beams and I could continue to monitor them. I think worm holes lend to the charm of exposed-wood homes.
I would definitely investigate whether there is an active infestation though, or treat all wood as if there were and then monitor for any developments.
If I did that, would the upper floor have any risk of collapsing? Because the wood seems to be hollow.
Unfortunately, I can't make that call from the one pic, but I would be surprised if that ratio of holes resulted in a hollowed beam. Termites, sure, but not woodworm.
Ultimately, if you won't sleep well with the old wood in place, then there's your answer.
Well, I will be putting workbenches with lab power supply, oscilloscope, desktop, monitor, etc... on top of that floor. I would not want to get home one day, and have everything in the dining room from a collapsed floor. But I see what you mean...