Old timber floors have usually been changed many times. A wall has been removed, a fireplace bricked up, a kitchen moved, a leak or borer damage cut out, or a section patched with whatever boards were to hand. Before a floor is sanded, those problems need to be dealt with, or the new finish will simply highlight them.
Floorboard repairs cover replacing damaged boards, filling in where walls and hearths used to be, fixing loose and squeaky boards, and dealing with gaps. In Ballarat, they also often involve finding out why a floor is damp, cupped or soft.
Common repair jobs
Replacing damaged boards
Boards can be split, rotten, burnt, heavily stained or chewed by borer. Damaged sections are cut out and new boards are fitted and fixed. Good repairs stagger the joins so the patch doesn't show as a block.
Infilling old walls, hearths and fittings
When walls come out or a fireplace hearth is removed, there's usually a strip or patch without boards, or with mismatched ones. Infilling with matching timber lets the floor run through as one surface after sanding.
Squeaks and loose boards
Squeaks usually come from boards rubbing against each other or moving on their nails. Refixing to the joists, sometimes with screws, usually quietens them. Persistent bounce or squeaking across a whole area can point to a joist or stump problem.
Gaps between boards
Every timber floor moves with the seasons. Boards take on moisture and swell in damp weather, then shrink in dry air or when the house is heated. The Australasian Timber Flooring Association notes that some gapping is normal in timber floors. Gaps that open in winter, when heaters dry out the air, may partly close again in spring.
Wide gaps can be filled, but it isn't always a good idea. Rigid fillers can crack or pop out as boards keep moving. Options include flexible fillers, timber slivers glued into the widest gaps, or, for very loose old floors, lifting and relaying the boards tight. Ask the contractor what they suggest for your floor and why.
Damp, cupping and soft floors
Ballarat is wet by Victorian standards. Bureau of Meteorology averages for Ballarat Aerodrome show rain on around 167 days a year and very high morning humidity through winter. Older weatherboard homes often sit on timber or concrete stumps with a ventilated subfloor, and when that ventilation is blocked or drainage is poor, moisture builds up under the floor.
Signs to look out for:
- Cupping, where board edges are higher than the middle, often points to moisture below.
- Soft or spongy patches can mean rot or insect damage in boards or joists.
- Sloping or bouncy floors can mean stumps have moved or sunk.
- Musty smells under the house.
These are causes, not cosmetic problems. They need fixing before boards are replaced or sanded, which may mean a plumber, drainage work, better subfloor ventilation, a pest inspection or restumping by a specialist. Our service covers floor sanding and repairs, not structural work, but a floor sander will usually tell you if they spot a problem.
Matching old timber
Older Ballarat homes may have softwoods such as Baltic pine, or old hardwood boards in widths and profiles that aren't made any more. Getting a good match can mean:
- reusing boards from a hidden area, such as a wardrobe;
- sourcing recycled boards from a timber yard;
- having boards machined to match the width and tongue-and-groove profile.
Even with the right species, new timber looks different from boards that have aged for a century. Sanding the whole floor together helps, and colour usually blends further as the new boards age.
Repairs before sanding
Repairs are best done before a full sand so old and new boards can be levelled and finished together. If you're planning to sand and polish, mention any repairs in the same enquiry so the job can be planned as one.
If you only need a repair and the finish is otherwise sound, a patch can sometimes be blended with a recoat, but an exact match is hard to achieve.
What affects the cost
Repairs are often quoted per board, per patch or by the hour. Published 2026 guides suggest single board replacement around $60 to $120 per board installed, and board repair with gap filling adding roughly $300 to $1,200 to a typical job. Matching old or recycled timber, removing fixed fittings and subfloor access all add to that. See prices.
Frequently asked questions
Should I fill the gaps in my floorboards?
It depends on their size and how much they move through the year. Small gaps are normal and best left alone. Wide gaps that let in draughts can be filled with a flexible product or timber slivers. In a house with strong winter heating, gaps will change with the seasons, so filling them is best planned with the contractor.
Why do my floorboards squeak?
Usually boards rubbing together or moving on loose nails. Refixing the boards to the joists usually fixes it. Widespread squeaks or bounce may mean a subfloor problem.
Can a few boards be replaced without sanding the whole floor?
Yes, but the new boards will look different until they're sanded and coated, and blending them into an old finish is difficult. Many people time repairs to coincide with a full sand.
What causes cupped floorboards?
Most often, moisture from below. The boards absorb water on their underside and swell. Find and fix the cause first, let the floor dry, and then decide whether sanding is needed.
Can old floorboards be lifted and relaid?
Yes. Tongue-and-groove boards can be carefully lifted, cleaned and relaid tightly, sometimes with a few extra boards to close up gaps. It's slower and more expensive than gap filling, but it's an option for very gappy heritage floors.
Ask about repairs
Send your suburb, a description of the problem and photos of the damaged area. With your consent, we'll pass your enquiry to one independent local floor sander, once one is appointed, who can inspect and quote. There's no cost or obligation to enquire.