Dry rot not only ruins your home’s aesthetic but also can destroy its structural integrity.
Rather than let your home fall to ruin, it is imperative that you learn how to spot wood rot and take the necessary steps to repair rotten wood as quickly as possible. You can repair rotted wood yourself if you’re handy; but to ensure you remove it all, you may want to contact a professional.
Got Rot is a trusted name in the wood repair industry, specializing in the restoration and repair of dry rot wood. With years of experience and a dedicated team of professionals, Got Rot is here to help you effectively tackle your dry rot problems. In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to spot dry rot and the process of repairing dry rot wood using expert tips.
Understanding Dry Rot and How it Affects Wood Structures
Dry rot is caused by a certain type of fungus that feeds off of moisture in solid wood. Dry rotted wood will have white or gray growths in its early stages but as it advances, dry rot may produce growths that look like mushrooms. When rotting wood gets to this stage, the only option is to replace the damaged wood.
If your wood is painted, you may notice it blistering, cracking, or peeling. The wood may appear darker in certain spots or green algae may develop. The most common areas for dry rot to develop are on window sills and door frames as they get more exposure to moisture and the outdoor elements. Even though rotted wood is a big concern, you should know that dry rot can also impact plaster, mortar, and other non-wood surfaces if you leave it to fester for too long.
Rotted wood can occur in your home, even if it isn’t that old. It is important to check your home each year and look in the areas that have the potential to become damp wood. Check your facia boards, window sills, window frames, and wood joints. If you spot any of the signs of rotting wood such as crumbling wood, peeling paint, fungus spores, or other signs, it is time to take immediate action before your home’s structural stability is compromised.
Step-by-Step Guide on Repairing Wood Rot
Rotten wood repair requires a few steps to complete the process. If you are attempting to repair rotted wood on your own, it is best to start with a small area with less damage to become familiar with how it’s done. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to repair infected wood.
Remove the Dry Rot
Start by scraping the surface and digging into the wet rot to remove fungus growth. A paint scraper is a great tool for this step. Keep scraping until all loose materials are out of the wood.
Spray the Wood with Fungicide
Dry rot spores will continue to spread damage, which means you need to apply fungicide to the affected area. Spray it in and around the area you’ve just scraped to help protect the surrounding wood then allow it to dry.
Apply Wood Hardener
Wood hardener stops dry rot, so you’ll want to paint this all over any exposed wood areas. Additionally, you may want to drill a few small holes into the cavity and add the liquid wood hardener to ensure it reaches every part of the impacted wood.
Replace Damaged Wood with Epoxy
In smaller damaged areas, use an epoxy with a thick consistency that you can smooth on with a plastic putty knife as a wood filler. For any larger areas, a moldable epoxy putty wood filler is best. You will need to follow the instructions for the drying and curing of the epoxy. Once the wood filler is cured, it can be treated like regular wood and can be sanded, drilled, or fastened.
Smooth the Surface
You will want to finish things up by sanding the surface to get a smooth and quality finish. This task is easiest with an electric palm sander, but whatever you use, make sure you wear eye protection and a mask or respirator to prevent inhaling any particles.
Protect the Wood
After you have made the repairs to the rotten wood, you can paint over them with an exterior primer and paint. Even better, using a product that combines both will save money and time.
When to Call Dry Rot Professionals
House repairs are always important for protecting your home. By keeping up with regular maintenance tasks, you can spot dry rot and wet rot and treat them quickly before they compromise your home.
Even with these tips on how to spot dry rot and make repairs, you may feel greater peace of mind by calling professionals who know how to get rid of it. Got Rot will assess the situation and find the right strategy to restore your home to tip-top shape.
Our professionals will identify all sources of moisture and remove them to stop the fungus growth in your home. After this is cleared, home repair can begin to correct the damage and replace wood where needed.
In most cases, it is best to remove and replace the wood, especially if any pieces are damaged beyond repair. All cracks will be sealed, and then our wood rot professionals will sand, prime, and paint the wood to make it look brand new. Fungicide is also applied to prevent rot from happening to your home again.
Got Rot uses quality materials and products to give you the longest lasting results and prevent you from having issues with dry rot in the future. Often, the task of repairing dry rot damage is too cumbersome for most homeowners. Even if you follow the steps, without industry knowledge, you may miss the growth in some parts of your home, allowing it to continue to thrive on the wood and carry on its destruction. You can have complete peace of mind when you hire professionals to do the job in a reliable way.