Wood rot is one of the most frustrating home repairs to do. The reason it’s so disappointing is because you don’t get to see the benefit of it daily. Unlike a kitchen remodel, when you pay 50k and get a brand new kitchen with wood rot, you can’t see the fix daily. But, if left untreated, wood rot can spread, and you’ll might spend way more. This is why it is important to catch it early.
If wood rot is caught early, you may only need to replace a window trim, but if you don’t deal with it early the window, the siding, framing, and insulation may be affected. Bad wood rot can sometimes even mean replacing the interior drywall!
Where do you find wood rot?
The most common areas of wood rot are:
- Windows.
- Doors.
- Specifically, any wood substrate on or around your windows or doors.
- Fascia boards that your gutters are attached to.
- Wooden siding that hasn’t been painted for some time or makes contact.
- On and around wooden decks.
What is wood rot?
To understand wood rot is important to know what causes it.
Wood rot needs four things: wood, water, air, and time. Take away any of these, and your wood stops rotting and becomes a kind of dry rot. Dry rot means the wood isn’t wet anymore and isn’t actively rotting, but it’s still weakened.
Rot is a natural process that helps dead trees in the forest break down and become soil. But it’s bad news when it’s in your house. If you don’t do anything about it, your wood will end up so weak that you could poke your finger through it. And if your finger can get through, water can too.
How to defend against wood rot
To stop wood from rotting, we can either put treatments or paints on it or use woods like cedar or spruce that naturally fight off water. But, these methods only work well if you keep taking care of them.
If you have a painted window trim, the paint helps keep water away from the wood. But, you’ve got to keep it maintained. If you don’t touch up the caulk and paint every five years or so, the sun’s rays break down the paint. When that happens, the wood underneath can get wet.
If the wetness is on the surface, it takes a while for the wood to rot unless there are cracks. But if it’s at the end of the wood, it rots much faster. The end part is like a sponge, so it soaks up water quickly. That’s how the rot process starts. It might dry out in the sun, but the more time it stays wet, the faster it can soak in water.
The Solution
To tackle this issue, make it a habit to routinely check your wooden surfaces for cracks in both the caulking and the wood itself. If you spot any, fill them up with exterior paintable caulk.
Another effective solution is to apply high-quality exterior paint every 5-7 years, considering the exposure to sunlight and rain your house endures. Keep an eye on sides that appear more faded; they likely need extra attention.
If you’re not a DIYer and notice wood rot in your house give us a call or fill out our form and we will come out and see what needs to be done.