Wood Rot & Dry Rot

Occasional dry rot repair is a common need for homes, but nothing pays off like an ounce of prevention, and there are things you can do to reduce the need and extent of wood rot and dry rot repairs to the exterior of your home.

Protecting wood from the elements means annual inspections to find issues early and prevent rotted wood from spreading. This means using the right wood and the right sealants and paint when repairs are made.

Combine that with some annual maintenance—such as removing twigs, seeds, etc. from between the planks of wooden decks—and some water-smart design when making wood rot repairs, and you will find that exterior wood can last decades and that your problem areas will ”dry-up” nicely.

Where Do I Look for Rotten Wood?

First, you have to find where water damage is happening, hopefully in its earlier stages.

Inspect the bases of windowsills and door frames, including garage doors. Fascia boards and soffits that make up your eaves are commonly susceptible to water damage when gutters are not working optimally. Do you have stains on interior walls or ceilings? This could indicate a leaky roof.

What Causes Dry Rot?

Does your home have any wood that touches or is within inches to the ground? This wood often falls victim to the fungus that causes dry rot.

After you identify a wood rot problem area, it’s time to address the root cause of the damage and to replace the rotten wood or repair the damage with wood putty. If the root cause is not a leaky roof or gutters, then it might simply be the design of the deck handrails or the window or door frames. In some cases, slight pitches can be built into repairs to allow rainwater to flow away from the wood and fall to the ground instead of pooling and soaking into the horizontal wood structure.

Seasonal Maintenance to Prevent Rotted Wood

Identify surfaces that are cracked or have peeling paint or faded stain that need to be re-painted or re-stained. Check joints and seams of outdoor wood structures. Can water get in? Caulk with acrylic latex caulk to lock out moisture. Addressing visible damage to siding is also a good idea since it serves the purpose of keeping moisture away from your house’s wood framing and interior wallboards.

Wood Rot Repair and Dry Rot Repair from Mr. Handyman

The veteran residential contractors at Mr. Handyman are experts at inspecting homes for wood rot and dry rot and repairing the damage with the right kind of lumber and sealants. And we can also arrive ready to perform any and all seasonal maintenance that will protect the structural soundness of your home and maintain its value and curb appeal.

Bonded and fully insured, Mr. Handyman can tackle wood rot and dry rot prevention and repairs, as well as the other important home repair and improvement items on your “To-Do” list.

Call your local Mr. Handyman to get estimates and get repairs scheduled today!