How to Fix Minor Wood Rot

Wood rot happens when exterior components such as trim or posts absorb moisture and don’t dry out. While typically the solution is to simply replace the entire component, you may be able to repair instances of minor wood rot. Handyman Connection® of Winter Park shares a quick guide on how to fix minor instances of wood rot.

Check the Depth of Rotten Wood

The first thing you should do is determine how deep the damage goes. Using a utility knife or a small screwdriver, chip away at the rotten area until you see healthy wood. Doing this lets you determine if there’s enough healthy wood for the filler to adhere and lets you gauge how much filler you should need.

Remove the Rotten Wood

Start removing rotten wood from the affected area, taking care not to gouge into the healthy wood components. Rotten wood comes off easily, so you should be able to take most of it out with a screwdriver or a similar tool. Then, using a rotary tool or a chisel, scrape out the remaining rotten wood. Scrape the paint or coatings and sand the area as necessary; what you need is a dry and clean surface for the filler to adhere to.

Apply Epoxy Filler

You can use many types of fillers for this purpose, but epoxy has so far shown the best results. If you are using a two-part epoxy resin, it’s better to work in relatively small batches as you only have about half an hour to work with it before it hardens. Make sure that the cavity is completely filled in, then scrape the excess epoxy with a flat blade scraper. Wait until the epoxy is completely dry before sanding the surface down. If you’re repairing a shaped profile such as crown molding, you can shape the dried epoxy using a rotary tool. Apply paint, let dry and you should be good to go.

Handyman Connection of Winter Park is your number one source for all kinds of repair jobs. Give us a call at (407) 270-2348 or fill out our contact form.