Wood rot is a type of decay in which if a tree’s trunk is exposed and infected it can spread like wildfire to other trees all thanks to fungal growth which is composed of brown, soft, or white rot. Timber that has been infected will illustrate a change in texture and look wilted and feel lightweight and crumbly to the touch. If a tree happens to be chopped down it can develop fruiting bodies known as “conks” which sprout up among the trunk and branches. Just like in the great outdoors, wood rot doesn’t happen suddenly all at once but takes time and occurs in leaps and bounds which explains why you may not notice the appearance of rotting wood on your home’s components until the last minute when they begin to cave in. It’s best not to outright ignore a Frisco wood rot repair, Frisco, TX homeowners should understand as even in nature it’s imperative to prune away dead branches to allow for renewed growth–and the same goes for wooden parts of your house from the siding, porch, patio and deck, fence, staircase and more. Regardless of if your Frisco wood rot repair is major or minor, it’s best not to leave it unaddressed as it can result in not only permanent structural damage as the timber deteriorates and collapses but also put into jeopardy the structural integrity of your home.
Frisco Wood Rot Repair Services
A general rule of thumb is that once timber is exposed to at least 20% of moisture it begins to deteriorate and spread exhibiting mildew growth. Thankfully with a bit of elbow grease your Frisco handyman can remedy the decay with a Frisco wood rot repair. Frisco, TX homeowners will find that our professional technician will remove any damaged areas and replace them with a wood epoxy filler to plug up any minor cracks or small holes, or wood patches.
TYPES OF WOOD ROT
There are three different classifications of wood rot that attack moist and damp timber, and all affect various parts of your house:
Brown Rot/Dry Rot: Of all the kinds of wood rot, dry rot is the most common. Dry rot exposes your timber to becoming arid as fungus infiltrates the timber and eats away the wood’s cellulose causing it to warp. If you’ve noticed a brittle texture to your wood with a darker color and deeper cracks, you need a Frisco wood rot repair. Frisco, TX property owners will find any wooden structures in your house that withstand heavy pressure such as your flooring and deck will start to weaken after being exposed to the RO’s fungal spores. Because the fungal growth which is composed of a puffy white wispy substance is contagious it can spread to other areas of your home in no time at all too. Worst of all, the fungal decay can mutate and regenerate after it digests the timber so unless you ask for a Frisco wood rot repair it’s not a problem that will go away on its own.
White Rot: Wood is made of lignin which binds the cells of wood together to allow for natural rigidity. White rot in particular attacks both living and dead trees too. As a result, the fungal decay readily digests the lignin and cellulose, stripping away the color and leaving behind a soft spongy texture.
Soft Rot: Soft rot showcases a cream-colored tissue and decomposes wood at a slower pace than its dry or white counterparts. It usually appears more so in areas with fluctuating temperatures being too hot or too cold, or too humid and wet for brown/dry or white rot to crop up. The fungi itself invades the secondary cell walls and takes a gradual approach to eat away the cellulose, and later on, the lignin. Soft rot doesn’t cause as much critical damage but it's best not to leave it unattended.
HOW DO WE APPROACH A FRISCO WOOD ROT REPAIR ON YOUR WINDOW FRAME?
A house’s timber construction will begin to rot as it's readily exposed to moisture from a busted gutter that splashes across your wooden siding. Or from a burst pipe due to a clog in your toilet as seen by damp, beige patches on the ceiling’s drywall. Likewise, treating wood rot is not all that difficult for a Frisco wood rot repair, Frisco, TX clients should note as our trained handyman will utilize their toolset including substitute epoxy wood filler or wood patches for your Frisco wood rot repair. It’s not unusual for your house to fall prey to wood rot, especially areas of the home that have not been sealed properly by varnishing them with stain or with a fresh coat of paint. For example, a rotting window frame is susceptible to a lack of insulation as your home’s energy efficiency plummets and your monthly utility bills soar due to more energy consumption for your heating, cooling, and ventilation needs. For a Frisco wood rot repair, Frisco, TX property owners will discover that replacing the wood around a window is relatively easy. Here are the steps we take for a Frisco wood rot repair for minor damage to a window frame:
-
Initial Inspection: We will first observe the extent of the damage and pinpoint the areas which have become softer and spongier before we proceed with a Frisco wood rot repair. We will gently poke around the entirety of the window frame applying pressure here and there using a screwdriver. If it easily crumbles, it's a surefire sign that the area of the wood has been exposed to rot. If we find that the wood on the window frame is mostly in good condition and only needs to be corrected in specific spots, we will proceed with an epoxy filler solution.
-
Scrape Away: After designating the most damaged areas we will remove the rot with the tip of a screwdriver or chisel. Sometimes too, it’s not a matter of scooping out the decayed areas but requires good hand-eye coordination and dexterity so as not to damage the surrounding wood. We will continue to scrape until only healthy wood remains behind. It’s best to leave it to the pros as you have to be patient to remove any damage, so the rot doesn’t spread to other areas of the window frame. If we find the damage is too extensive, we will instead recommend replacing entire portions of the window frame with new pieces of wood instead of using a wood substitute.
-
Brew and Blend: We will mix the wood epoxy solution which needs to be combined in equal parts to be more effective.
-
Careful Application: Now we will finally apply the epoxy to the damaged area with a putty knife. We will apply a generous and thick layer and ensure we won’t cake on too much filler. We’ll smooth out the surface using the flatter side of the putty knife and work nimbly across the frame’s surface before the epoxy solution dries out. Generally speaking, it’s best to layer on more epoxy filler rather than less as any unplugged areas can result in punctured dents on the wood’s surface.
-
Dry And Cure: Allow the epoxy to dry out for a handful of hours. You’ll notice the fixed area will begin to harden and expand to forge a durable and airtight seal which will ward off incoming moisture and humidity better than any stain or paint would.
-
Sand Off: Now we finish off the surface using an 80-grit sheet of sandpaper to shred off any extra filler substance and follow up with a 120-grit sheet of sandpaper for detailing. Your Frisco handyman will utilize smaller, circular motions to ensure the surface in question is as smooth as possible without any defects as they make the window frame itself more shapely.
-
Easles, Paintbrush & Smock: Finally, we will paint over the repaired area with a few coats of paint by brushing over the applied epoxy filler and any surrounding timber surface on the window frame to allow for consistency. It’s best to allow the window frame’s surface to dry off between painted coats and overall let the window frame dry off for 24 hours before making any other adjustments to it.
Why We Are The Feasible Choice For Wood Rot Repair
Don’t procrastinate on a Frisco wood rot repair which will only get worse if left unresolved and spread to other parts of your humble abode. If you are indecisive go ahead and book a no-obligation consultation and recall we only offer transparent, upfront pricing with a one-year parts and labor guarantee so if your timber happens to wither away, we will return and make the proper adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Rot Repair
WHAT IS THE BEST REPAIR FOR ROTTED WOOD?
Rotted wood can be repaired by first removing the damaged areas from the original board or joists. It also depends on the extent of the damage–if the damage is minor then it’s best to utilize an epoxy wood filler or wood patch to correct the damage, but if it’s major you need to replace entire portions or planks of wood with brand new pieces of timber.
CAN YOU STOP WOOD ROT ONCE IT STARTS?
You can prevent wood rot by participating in its proper upkeep through routine maintenance earlier on by treating the timber by staining and painting it. You can also stop wet rot from spreading by applying a fungicide on the timber during the drying-out phase. This will prevent dry rot from spreading to other wooden structures.
SHOULD YOU PAINT OVER ROTTED WOOD?
No–wood has already begun rotting and needs to be replaced before it can be painted over or any other installation is done. It’s a false assumption that simply painting over the damaged and rotting wood will prevent it from growing and spreading. In fact, the polar opposite will happen as the rot continues and the paint peels away.
Handyman Will Grind Your Wood Rot To A Halt–Call Us Today!
A Frisco wood rot repair will trigger a series of unfortunate events of further problems resulting in your home’s demise. Our trustworthy handyman team members always do the job right the first time around for a Frisco wood rot repair, Frisco, TX residents will find the decay won’t reemerge again anytime soon. Whether you’re in Frisco or Little Elm, Pilot Point, or Sanger we will arrive promptly and uniformed ready to serve you. Go ahead and reach out to one of our courteous customer service representatives to schedule an appointment otherwise you can ask about our other residential and commercial services from siding replacement to ceiling repair and flooring installation as we are on standby waiting to hear from you.