Telltale Signs of Wood Rot - What Should You Watch For?

As you may recall, we recently discussed what exactly wood rot is, what it does to your home, and how it can get a toe-hold on your exterior surfaces.

Today, let’s take a closer look at which surfaces are most at-risk, and what kind of telltale signs you should watch for. After all, the best thing you can do to combat this wood-munching fungus is take a zero-tolerance, proactive approach.

Where Does Wood Rot Most Commonly Develop?

Just a quick refresher from our last post: all rot needs to thrive is a bit of moisture, a point of entrance into a wood surface, oxygen, warmth (our spring weather will do just fine), and time. An acceptable point of entrance includes damaged or weathered wood, of course, but also those surfaces where your paint or stain has grown old and tired.

Healthy coatings are the first line of defense, and that’s just another reason to invest in routine, ongoing maintenance.

With that said, here are your most at-risk surfaces:

• Window sills
• Door frames
• Doors and thresholds
• Soffits
• Fascia boards
• Deck boards
• Your deck’s structural timber
• Trim
• Around garage doors
• Any wood that is close to the ground

What Does Wood Rot Look Like?

Before we tackle this list of symptoms, keep this in mind: wood rot is NOT always obvious. It can be sneaky, hiding up underneath siding, or obscured in a place where it won’t be seen unless you proactively look for it. That’s one of the many reasons why aligning yourself with a painting and maintenance professional is a good idea. Similar to how a mechanic knows how to best inspect and repair your car, a painting and wood repair pro knows what to check for and how to correct budding issues.

• Soft wood is always a sign of trouble
• Brittle, crumbling wood
• Powdery residue/buildup
• Discolored surface
• Pay special attention to sections of damage, or particularly old paint/stain

If you are concerned about a particular surface, poke it gently with a screwdriver. If the wood gives easily, it’s time to diagnose, repair, and replace the infected wood.

How Often Should You Check for Wood Rot?

At least once per year. Ask your painting company about routine maintenance checks as well, just to make sure your paint and stain are in good repair year round.

If you live here in Northern VA, give us a call at Williams Professional Painting! It would be our pleasure to serve you.