Tiles in bathroom/suspected damp/woodworm

[Manchestermanchester]

I’m getting my bathroom redone and there has been a leak that’s cause a damp joist and also woodworm (don’t freak out).

The damp has now been controlled because the leaking pipe has been stopped. I’m however now left with my bathroom fitter telling me to fit new floorboards due to “woodworm”.

It makes no sense to replace the floor boards due to woodworm and not the joists. However woodworm only exists due to damp. The damp has been controlled. There are also no holes in the rest of the wood.

I’m trying to get someone out to survey the wood but I feel like my bathroom fitter is taking the mickey. He needs new floorboards to make the tiles stable etc.

Anyone have any ideas of what I can do?

is the old floor "planks" or chipboard? Post a photo of it.

Poke it with a flat-bladed screwdriver, hard. Does it go in? (don't use anything round or pointed at the holes will look like beetle holes)

The planks are wooden floorboards, they just look like normal floorboards. There was chipboard first the link.

The screwdriver would only go in the joist where it was wet

what was "first the link?"

On top of the lino*.

I didn’t proof read

photo would help

you mention tiles.

if you are having the floor tiled, it must be very flat and rigid, because the grout will crack and the tiles come loose if there is any movement when walked on. It's good practice to screw down 25mm ply to the joists, which is a strong and rigid flooring. I'd certainly want to take up the old flooring, otherwise putting the ply on top will raise the floor level, so the door needs cutting and there will be a step.

Flooring ply is not very expensive, and makes a good surface in a bathroom. It can also be painted or stained. 18mm ply can be used under carpet but benefits from struts under all unsupported joints.