At One Man & A Toolbox, we fix a lot of different things at a lot of different houses. And what we see at so many places of residence—nearly every single one of them—is wood rot.
Sometimes it’s just a little and sometimes it’s a lot. In some cases, it looks like the paint is unwilling (and unable) to bind to a certain place because the wood can’t hold onto it—thanks to the rot. But sometimes it’s even hidden by paint, and homeowners are surprised it’s there once the paint comes off.
The unfortunate truth is that the environment for wood rot growth starts the day the house is built. If the ends of a cut piece of wood aren’t sealed, it creates a great opportunity for moisture to get in there and rot to begin—if there’s one thing that wood loves to do, it’s soaking up water like a sponge.
Wood Rot Prevention
The fact of the matter is that there’s not a great way to prevent wood rot. It’s simply a part of nature. But there are ways that you can detect it once it starts to show up so you can stop it in its tracks. The first key is knowing where to look.
Take a peek in these places:
Rake board ends
These aren’t covered by roof shingles, making it easy for moisture to make its way in.
Window sills
Window side casings
Corner boards where downspouts are attached
This happens when people don’t clean their gutters (gutter cleaning is also a job that we cover!) and the water overflows and saturates the downspout.
Water table trim
Skirt boards surrounding a deck
While we appreciate homeowners knowing where to look for rotten wood, when it comes to actually replacing the damaged area, we recommend leaving that up to us—the pros.
Don’t Let It Go
It’s tempting to let rotten wood fall by the wayside and put it on your to-do list for another month. But with this issue, time is of the essence. If you let rotten wood stick around, it could get worse as time passes, and a replacement for one single section could turn into a replacement for the entire area surrounding it.
Instead of waiting for rotten wood to get bad, give us a call. And remember—don’t try and replace it on your own. Here’s why.
Steer Clear of DIY Replacement
We’ll make sure that your rotten wood replacement is done right the very first time. If you try and take on this project yourself, you put yourself at risk for serious health and safety issues. By allowing us to take care of the replacement, you can avoid the following:
Respiratory Issues
Rotted wood isn’t the cause of respiratory problems, but its presence points to moisture in the air that can support the growth of fungi like black mold. In damp conditions, mold spreads fast and releases dangerous spores into the air that can lead to breathing issues, coughing, sneezing, and lung inflammation.
Skin Irritation and Rashes
If mold is to blame for your rotten wood, it can also lead to skin rashes, eye irritation, headaches, and exhaustion. So the fungi that cause the rot also cause these side effects.
Gaps, Open Space, and Cracks
Rotten wood can leave your home vulnerable. It can compromise the integrity of your home and leave the interior exposed to external factors like pests and the elements. We can get rid of the rotten wood and make sure your interior is sealed against the outside world.
Weakness in the Structure
This might be the most harmful side effect; rotting wood means that the physical building itself is on its way to failing entirely.
Rotten Wood Replacement Experts
To keep your home or building free from too much excess moisture, we recommend that you keep your gutters clean, use dehumidifiers, use better insulation, and improve your ventilation. That will lessen the likelihood of rotten wood.
Rotten wood is all too common, and the fungi that are known for partnering with it can do many harmful things to your body. To keep you and your family safe, check the common places that we listed for rotten wood, and if you see any trace of it, let us know as soon as possible so we can do something about it.
At One Man & A Toolbox, we care about keeping our customers safe, and that’s why we insist on being the pros who wipe out the rotten wood in your home and replace it with something brand new. Give us a call today to talk more about this process.