Among the various maintenance issues you may encounter as a homeowner, rotted wood is one of the most common. In regions with high humidity and wet weather, your home runs a greater risk of sustaining damage from wood rot.
However, if you find rotted or damaged wood, don’t worry. There are options for replacing or repairing rotted wood to keep your home safe.
Preparation & patching
Removing rotted wood involves two steps: preparation and patching. Throughout the prep phase, you should take out all the rotten wood as much as possible. During the process, consider whether the wood can be restored or if it should be replaced completely.
To patch the wood, you’ll need to coat problem spots with a two-part elastomer. First, an epoxy wood gel is applied to clean wood. The second step involves molding epoxy to fill in the missing wood.
After drying and polishing, the patch should match the wood surface texture. However, you may need to paint or stain.
When should I replace rotting wood?
When rotting wood is found on an old porch, decking or siding, it is important to know if it needs repairs. Rotted wood poses potential health risks and liability issues if not addressed. You’ll know wood should be replaced if at least 15% of the mass is rotten.
Rotted wood may be repaired with the removal of rot on the original boards and beams. Afterward, you may apply wood or polyester filler.
Should I replace or repair rotted wood?
In some cases, it’s easier to just replace damaged timber instead of trying to repair it.
However, if aspects of your home have personal or historical significance, you might prefer to repair rather than replace. The comparative cost can vary greatly depending on the wood and its purpose - for example, whether it’s structural or cosmetic.
To keep your home safe and structurally sound, it’s crucial to address rotted wood as soon as possible. While it’s possible to repair and replace rotten wood on your own, you should always consult a professional engineer or contractor before getting started.
About the Author
Judy Szablak
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com
