Bit the bullet and ripped up the carpet - found biggish hole.

[BoBoo]

Hate the carpet in the house we bought - cream, which we couldn't be less suited to. Pulled up the carpet in the hall today after a quick peek to check the state of the floorboards, and while on the whole they are pretty good, uncovered a biggish hole by the radiator. It's about 4" long and and inch wide, but isn't a uniform shape. Any ideas how I could fill this? I suppose the best long term solution is going to replace the floorboard, but how would I match what's there?

It depends how old the boards are and what floor covering you want to put down. If you want to keep the boards bare, then you are best taking up the damaged board and taking it to a reclamation yard to ask them to match it. This is the best option for old boards, as they tend to be of a different type of wood to modern boards, so is the best way of getting a good match. DP and I had to replace a few boards in one of our rooms when we sanded the boards, and a reclamation yard was able to find an exact match for the wood, and cut the boards to exactly the right width and depth. You absolutely cannot tell which board is not original.

Your other option if you are intending to put down a new carpet, or if your boards are relatively modern, is to patch it with a piece of pine of the type of strip wood that you can get from B&Q etc. Again, the best thing is to take the board up, and cut back the damaged area to a neat rectangle, and so that the replacement piece will be supported by a floor joist at both ends. You can then cut a piece to match, and either glue it into the board, or just nail it to the joists at each end.

Thanks, Thistledew - that's very helpful. Don't have enought money to recarpet, and think floorboards will be easier to live with. I suspect we will end up living with the hole for a while, but good to have an eventual plan of action.

What is under the stairs - in the under stairs cupboard IYSWIM - any "spare" board in there you could use? Alternatively radiator cover {ducks in case these are really naff - never had them}

Yes, there are boards under the stairs - great idea. And a radiator cover could work, not something that has ever entered my mind before, and potentially less hassle. Not sure how I feel about them, but will give it some thought. Thanks, Fishfingers.

Ohhh...have warm fluffy have-helped-a-bit feeling. Hope works out

I cannot understand why you are considering living with a hole in the floor.

Is the floor made of "planks" or chipboard?

I would also be wary of living with a gap in the floor if you have young children. Not because a gap an inch wide and four inches long poses any real danger, but for the reason that it will present an irresistible postbox for all your important documents and small things of value!

Either a reclaimed board or a bit of wood from a DIY store won't cost you more than a tenner.