subject: What To Do With Old Wood Once It Is Replaced [print this page] People have to repaired and replace wood constantly, floors, walls, doors, decks, tables, trailer floors, camper floors, everywhere flooring is being replaced and repaired, but what do you do with the old wood? Well, I guess it depends, why was the wood being replaced in the first place, was it just natural wear and tear, maybe you were surprised it lasted that long after all. Was it rotting away, pest infested, did it have water damage, or maybe you just found a new wood you had always wanted and this is the time to do the switch. There are lots of reasons wood needs to be replaced, whether its your home floor, deck floor, trailer floor or anything else in the home or elsewhere, and once you are done there are a few options on what to do with all the old, rotted, or insect infested wood.
Lets start with insect infested wood, take termites, well, one option is to burn the wood, carefully, you want to be sure the wood has not been left near your home or else the infestation will grow. If you can burn it immediately placing the infested wood directly on an already burning fire. Other insects like carpenter ants, carpenter bees and beetles love wood, they can be living inside wood without you even aware. Just like the termite, you do not want to store infested wood, but if you have it on hand and need to quickly eliminate it then burning will do the trick, you will have a great fire and kill of any insects still inside. Just be sure to have a good fire going before you pop in the infested wood.
As for rotted or water damaged wood, this will be very difficult to burn as wood needs to be dry, you use water to put out a fire so how are you supposed to burn wet wood?? Why not allow the rotted wood to fully break down and start up your own compost bin, adding wood compost to soil is great for your garden. You can also allow the wood to tear into small pieces and use it as you would mulch in your garden beds, around bushes, flowers, trees. How perfect is that, some people go out and buy mulch for their gardens and you have what you need rotting away in your garden, you just want to be sure your wood is rotting not inset infested?
For just old wood, beat down by natural wear and tear, it doesnt mean it is unusable, just not the best wood for the job you need to use it on. Try recycling the wood and using it on building other smaller pieces of furniture, maybe toy boxes, wall shelving, side tables. Even donating it to local charities, you never know what they are looking for, cut it up and collect it for home firewood for your fireplace in the winter. There are many ways to use up the wood you no longer need, repair, replace, and recycle!
