Are you concerned that you may have wood rot in your home? Maybe you’re having trouble identifying if the wood is actually rotted or just needs refinished. Many homes, especially the older homes in the Kansas City area, have problems with wood rot in some form. In this article, I will explain what wood rot is and how it happens, where you typically see it, how to tell if it’s rotted and what to do about it so you will be better equipped to take care of any wood rot in your home.
What Causes Wood Rot
Wood rot is a form of decay that is brought on by a combination of moisture and fungi. All wood rot is brought on by fungal infestations. A few that most commonly cause wood rot in homes are:
- Serpula lacrymans
- Fibroporia vaillanti
- Coniophora putaena
Bonus points if you actually read and pronounced those!
These fungi need conditions of the right temperature (usually 50°- 90°F) and moisture in order to grow. This means the temperature inside our homes is typically always within the range for the fungi to grow if moisture is present for a prolonged period of time.
Basically, if wood becomes wet and is unable to dry out, rot will start to form over time.
As a homeowner, this means any areas where wood comes into contact with water have a potential for wood rot to form. This is why wood that will be used outdoors is typically treated with chemicals or sealed to prevent it from absorbing excess moisture. This leads to the next topic…
What Parts of the Home Typically Have Wood Rot
As I mentioned, any area that sees regularly sees water has a potential for wood rot. Some of the most common areas around a home are:
- Window sills
- Exterior door frames
- Decks
- Fascia boards behind gutters
- Bathrooms and kitchens
Water management has to be considered with all of these areas to avoid wood taking on too much moisture and creating rot.
How to Tell If Wood Is Rotted
Sometimes it can be hard to know if wood is actually rotted or if it just needs refinishing. A good example is an old deck. The deck may have been ignored for a long time and now old stain is flaking off. I’ve had homeowners ask whether all of the wood needs to be replaced. It only needs to be replaced if the boards are rotten. Here are some ways to tell:
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Visual Test
Sometimes you can visually see the wood is distorted, discolored, bulging behind paint, or sagging. In some cases, algae may even be forming on the wood. In more severe situation where the rot has been present for a long time, there will be obvious holes and missing chunks in the wood. These are good indications the wood has started to rot.
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Poke Test
This highly scientific method is exactly how it sounds. You simply poke the wood to check if it’s rotted. Rotted wood is very soft and spongy and may still be wet. You can poke the area with your finger or a screwdriver, and if it goes right into the wood it most likely has rot issues. Rotted wood will also flake off, especially after it has dried.
How to Fix Wood Rot in Your Home
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Cut Off the Water Source
If you’ve checked the suspected area and determined the wood is rotted, what do you do now? As we talked about earlier, the fungi that cause wood rot need moisture to grow. This is important because if you find wood rot, you need to cut off the source of the moisture. If the water source is cut off, the rot cannot spread.
This is important for any areas inside the home like under a bathroom sink with a leak, or a leaking drain pipe in the ceiling. The leak needs to be addressed first, and then the repair can be done.
Outdoor areas are trickier because rain and snow can’t just be turned off. For these areas, it’s important to seal and protect the wood, seal any areas the water can get inside the home, and have proper water management.
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Replace the Wood
The best solution to fixing rotted wood is to remove the rotted sections and replace them with new wood. If this is for an outdoor area, pressure-treated wood is a good option to make sure the replacement will last.
Another great option for certain areas is Cellular PVC boards. These boards are made of composite materials instead of wood, making them completely impervious to rot, unlike regular wood. These boards are typically made for fascia, door jambs or door and window trim. Some have wood grain designed on the face of the board to give it the traditional look of wood and help it blend in with any existing wood in the area.
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Repair the Wood
In some cases, the damage from the rot is minor enough that a section of the board can be repaired, rather than replacing the entire board. This should only be done for aesthetics. Any structural wood that’s been damaged needs to be replaced.
This is an easy solution for window sills or door frames that have small section of rot. To repair this, you’ll need to cut or scrape out any of the rotted wood. Use the “poke test” to make sure the wood left is all solid. Once the rotted wood is out, you can fill the area left behind with a wood filler and sand it smooth to blend in. Once the area is painted, it should be a seamless fix!
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Seal the Wood
One other option for repairing the rotted wood in these cosmetic areas before the rot is too far along is to seal it with a wood hardener. The hardener is a resin that goes on over the soft, rotted wood to seal the area from further moisture and firm it up. In this case, you do not need to remove all of the rotted wood. Make sure the area has dried out completely. If it is still wet, the hardener can seal in the moisture and still allow to wood to rot. Clean the area and brush off any dust, apply the hardener according to the directions (it typically takes several coats), and fill any areas needed with wood filler.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve learned more about how to spot, prevent, and treat wood rot around your home. If you suspect you have wood rot at your home in the Kansas City area, don’t wait and let the problem spread. Contact me today to see how I can get it fixed so you can rest easy.