ROTTED WOOD REPAIR BY CHAMBERSBURG HOME REPAIRS

ROTTED WOOD REPAIR

The need to repair rotted wood is usually associated with windows, doors,
sheds and other outdoor wooden structures. I repair rotted wood for
homeowners in Franklin County, PA when it’s more economical to
repair rotted wood than replace the entire unit.

Homeowners can usually detect the signs of rotted wood - chunks of wood
separation, damp or spongy wood (sometimes under a layer of paint),
patches of wood that have become a different color than an adjacent area,
or webs of cracks in the wood.

If a homeowner suspects rotted wood but is unsure, the best way to confirm
the wood has rotted is to simply poke it with a screwdriver. If the screwdriver
readily sinks into the wood, there’s a very good possibility that the wood is
rotted and needs treatment, repair or replacement.

Can Rotted Wood Be Repaired Instead of Replaced?

Structural wood that supports a building or house (beams, floor joists, posts)
that has rotted should always be replaced to safeguard the integrity of the
building. However, wood associated with non-structural units such as doors
and windows can usually be repaired far more economically than replacing
the entire unit.

Many professional contractors advise homeowners that the only solution to
a rotted door or window is full replacement. Such a replacement can have a
negative impact on the character of the house.

For example, a homeowner was advised that the only solution for the rotted
wood sill shown in the photo below was complete replacement of both
windows.

Rotted Wooden Sill Below Windows

The homeowner felt that the recommended replacement windows would not

retain the Victorian character of is home.

The rotted wood shown in the image above only affected the white sill plate
below the windows.

The "AFTER" photo below shows the same windows after the wooden sill
plate was repaired by replacing the rotted wood with new wood and the
use of today’s advanced materials at far less cost than full replacement
of both windows.

After Repair

Even when rotted wood appears to be in an advanced stage, it’s still possible
that repair is a more economical solution than full replacement of the unit. A
full replacement is almost always much more expensive than repairing the
rotted wood.

What Caused The Wood To Rot?

In all cases, it’s critical to detect and correct the source of the moisture that
caused the wood rot. Unless the moisture problem is eliminated the
repaired or replaced wood will only rot again after the repair.

Should The Homeowner Attempt Repair?

It’s possible for a homeowner to repair rotted wood using materials now
available, but incorrectly or ineffectively repairing the wood (and resolving
the moisture problem) could cost a lot more in the long run than having the
job done professionally the first time. In any case, while waiting for the
repair or replacement, the homeowner should make every effort to allow
the wood to dry out until it can be repaired or replaced.

How Is Rotted Wood Corrected?

As mentioned above, the first step is to dry the rotted wood as thoroughly
as possible. Once the wood is completely dry, soft wood is treated with
wood hardening product, or the soft wood is removed.

If the area(s) to be repaired are smaller than a deck of cards, a two-part filler
for exterior use can be used can be used in most cases to complete the repair.
However, larger wooden sections that require a repair should be replaced.

The new wood should be glued and mechanically fastened using exterior wood
glue and galvanized or rust-proof fasteners. Any remaining imperfections in
the wood should be filled with an exterior wood filler – two-part filler being
highly recommended.

Finally, the repaired area should be coated with oil-based primer and at least 2
coats of high-quality exterior paint. One word of caution – missing any part of
rotted wood during the repair will negate all efforts to repair the rotted
wood!

In Conclusion

The option to repair rotted wood might eliminate the need to replace an
expensive window, door, or other wooden unit. In many cases, I can
repair rotted wood units while maintaining the home’s character,
saving money for homeowners in Franklin County, PA.