How to Patch or Add Onto Old Hardwood Floors (Without It Looking Obvious)

Need to Match a Floor in Saint Paul?

If you’re working on a 1900–1960 home in Saint Paul or Minneapolis and need 1.5" maple or 2.25" oak to patch a radiator removal, wall move, or addition — call before you start cutting.

Bring a sample into Ground Floor Supply or send clear photos.
We’ll help you identify species, width, and thickness.

You deleted a radiator.
Moved a wall.
Added a room.
Or opened up a 1917 Craftsman and now there’s a glaring patch in the middle of the hallway.

New flooring of the “same species and grade” often looks so different it might as well be something else entirely.

And in many cases, the wrong species of the right age will blend better than new wood of the right species.

Old flooring was born of forest, not farm. Competition for light created slower growth, tighter grain, and structural density that modern lumber simply doesn’t replicate. Add decades of light and air exposure, and the difference becomes dramatic.

If you’re trying to match old floors, here’s what matters.

Get the Species and Size Right

Even seasoned professionals get this wrong.

Red oak patched into white oak.
Maple into birch.
Pine into fir.

They are not interchangeable.

Take in-focus photos:

One wide shot of the room
One close shot showing grain structure

Measure carefully. Flooring mills were not historically standardized.

Never assume it’s 1.5" or 2.25" wide. An eighth or quarter inch difference is hard to see — but impossible to ignore once installed. I often have odd widths available.

Thickness varies too:

3/4" is common
3/8" was frequently used upstairs in older homes
1" thick flooring appears occasionally

You can check thickness by removing a vent or pulling trim to see the profile. Best option? Bring in a sample piece and let us inspect it.

Most of the patch work we see in Saint Paul neighborhoods like Summit Hill, Mac-Groveland, Highland Park, and Merriam Park involves 1.5" maple or 2.25" red oak installed between 1900 and 1960.

If you’re unsure what you have, bring in a board or remove a floor vent to expose the profile. We inspect these daily.

Not Sure What You Have?

Old homes in Saint Paul vary in:

Thickness (3/4", 5/16", oddball)
Species (maple, birch, red oak, white oak, fir)
Milling style
Wear patterns

Start here:
👉 View Available Reclaimed Hardwood Inventory
👉 Learn How to Fill Hardwood Floor Gaps
👉 Call 612-812-3628 Before You Cut

Anticipate Extra Time for Installation

Small patches won’t add much time.
Full additions will.

Reclaimed flooring slows the install because every board must be evaluated.

Expect:

Mixed end-match and wall cuts
Butt ends that aren’t perfectly square
Occasional cracked groove lips
Previously nailed tongues

Tools you’ll want nearby:

Table saw
Router with groove bit
Slip tongues
Regular wood glue
Silane floor adhesive

I recommend glue assist on all salvage installs — even when nailing.

Silane adhesives (like Berger-Seidle M1) allow seasonal movement while providing reliable subfloor adhesion. Since the groove lip may be compromised and tongues have already been nailed once in their lifetime, fastening from below with silane adhesive ensures stability.

Reclaimed wood deserves careful handling.

Contractors — reclaimed patch work is often what gets you in the door on historic homes. We keep common patch sizes in stock because these calls happen weekly.

If you’re mid-project and stuck, call.

Anticipate Extra Time for Sanding

The salvage we offer still has “meat on the bone.”
That means years of future sanding life remain in the wear layer.

If the flooring has never been sanded:

It will likely be flat
But may have stubborn shellac or wax residue
You’ll burn through coarse abrasives faster

Often the best salvage has already had old coatings professionally removed in the recent past.

You don’t always get to pick perfect history. My job is to communicate condition clearly so you can schedule appropriately.

Myth: “Old Wood Doesn’t Move Anymore”

It absolutely does.

I learned this the hard way assuming 120-year-old wood was “done moving.”
12% down to 7% (and eventually 5% in winter) resulted in excessive gaps.

Old wood is just as hygroscopic as new wood.

All reclaimed flooring at Ground Floor Supply is stored in a climate-controlled environment similar to modern homes. But moisture readings still matter.

Follow the same acclimation and moisture rules you would with new flooring.

Old growth doesn’t mean no movement.

Is It Worth It?

Material cost is often similar to new wood.

Labor is higher.

But the end result is something you cannot fake: uninterrupted history.

When installed properly, reclaimed flooring doesn’t look patched. It looks original.

And that’s worth it.

Ready to Match Your Floor?

Bring in a sample.
Send clear photos.
Measure twice.
Buy once.

Matching Floors Requires the Right Material

We stock reclaimed hardwood specifically for patching and historic restoration in Saint Paul homes.

Inventory changes weekly.

Bring a sample.
Measure twice.
Call before you cut.

📞 Ground Floor Supply – Saint Paul

Ground Floor Supply
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Contractor-trusted reclaimed hardwood flooring