The Right Way to Repair Small Areas of Wood Rot

Repairing rotting wood surfaces may seem complex and tricky, but it’s actually very straightforward and one of the simpler repair projects you can do on your own. In this post, Handyman Connection® of Mason shares what tools and materials you need to properly repair small areas of rotting wood.

Tools and Materials

Before anything else, you’ll want to secure the following tools for this project:

–    a paintbrush and a putty knife

–    a rasp and sanding block

–    a utility knife and a wood chisel

On top of that, you’ll want to secure some polyester filler and either a wood hardener or some consolidant. You’ll also want to grab some 100-grit sandpaper for the finishing touches.

The First Steps

Start by removing the rotted parts of wood with a sharp tool or your handy 5-in-1. Make sure you only remove the rotted parts carefully as you don’t want to damage the surface that isn’t rotting. Next, mix the polyester wood filler and firmly press it into the recesses of the wood surface using your putty knife.

You’ll want to fill in the entire portion of the wood surface thoroughly, taking care to fill any holes and gaps where the rot so that they don’t become problems in the future.

Shaping and Smoothing

Next, it’s time to shape and smooth the surface of the wood. Do it as if you were carving the now partially hardening wood filler using your putty knife and chisel. You’ll want to shape the filler in place so apply  bit of pressure as you do this.

Apply another layer of filler when necessary. Just make sure you shape it when its still soggy and sagging to prevent it from hardening prematurely. Once that’s done, let the filler set and harden for a couple of minutes. The last step is the easiest and involves sanding the surface with your 100 grit sandpaper to get rid of any imperfections.

For larger wood surfaces with extensive rot, let our team from Handyman Connection® of Butler Warren help you restore your rotting wood surfaces to its original appearance. Call us today at (513) 282-3032 to learn more about our services, or fill out our online form to request an estimate.