Repair Wood Rot Before You Paint, or Else

Before you start an exterior paint job, you need to make sure the infrastructure of your home or building is secure and safe. Otherwise, you risk wasting thousands of dollars, countless hours of your time, and a lot of hard work. Don’t risk the integrity of your paint! 

What is wood rot?

Wood rot happens when wood becomes soft due to sustained moisture. When wood becomes soft, it slowly decays over time. Not to mention, it becomes a prime environment for mold, pests, and other bacteria. Sometimes, wood rot indicates other issues within your home, such as a leak or plumbing problems. 

Dry rot also indicates water damage. Rot in wood never occurs without the presence of water and moisture. It occurs when a previously wet, rotting piece of wood dries. This could mean that you have an issue with intermittent moisture or leaks.

What causes wood to rot?

Even with the highest quality wood and exterior paint job, sooner or later the elements take their toll. Depending on the climate of your area, wood may be more susceptible to rot. Rain, humidity, lack of heat, snow, and quick temperature changes all affect the quality of your wood boards and surfaces. Over time, the trapped moisture and poor air circulation from weather deteriorate your wood.

How long it takes for wood to deteriorate

There are a variety of factors that can affect how long your wood lasts. If your wood is untreated, is in an area of high humidity, and is exposed to consistent moisture, it rots in as little as a month, and lasts at most six months. Wood in a slightly better environment can last between one and three years. 

No matter how well protected your wood is, eventually the water and rain will get to it. Before you paint, take a good look at your exterior and make sure nothing needs to be replaced. If you’re not sure what to look for, you can always hire a professional to inspect. Otherwise, look out for these symptoms:

  • Your old paint is peeling or flaking

  • Exterior wood smells musty

  • Your wood is soft enough to be pushed in with just a finger

  • Fungus is growing on the wood

  • Dry wood easily breaks apart and is dusty

The consequences of painting over wood rot

You should never simply paint over an issue as serious as rotting wood. At best, you’re only postponing a huge infrastructure issue to your building. Let the wood fester, and a ton of problems crop up that cost you more money and time. 

Poor home protection

Wet, rotting wood is the perfect entry point for termites and other pests. If not dealt with, termites cause serious structural damage to your home or building. They’ll spread to other areas of the building, and at that point, you’ll have to hire a pest control company as well. Painting over the rot only puts this issue out of mind for a short period of time.

Ideal environment for mold

In addition to termites, areas of moisture are perfect for mold growth. While serious health issues from mold are quite rare, it's still possible. For those sensitive to mold or with allergies, allergic reactions from mold are much more common. Don’t put yourself at risk, especially because studies about the health effects of mold are still ongoing. There’s no guarantee that there aren’t long term effects.

Paint does not adhere

It is nearly impossible to achieve a perfect paint finish on wet, damaged surfaces. It doesn’t adhere to the surface properly, and when it finally dries, the paint tends to crack and bubble. The paint will fade faster, as well. On top of all that, the paint locks in any present moisture, worsening the condition of already rotting wood.

Guarantee a beautiful, lasting paint job

Repair Wood Rot

There’s only one way to ensure that your paint job is perfect, and is made to last. Make sure your exterior is inspected, and you hire the right people for the job! You want a great exterior paint to last between seven and ten years on wood.

Replace affected wood before you paint

As unfortunate as it is to hear, rotting wood can’t be repaired. You have to replace it with new, treated wood. For historic homes, there are usually city guidelines that you have to follow, too. Hire a company that has experience, and a viewable portfolio with the type of project you’re seeking.

Hire a professional to do the job right

Old Crow Painting specializes in commercial, residential, and industrial painting projects. For both interior and exterior jobs, we bring a professional and personal touch to every building we work on. We have plenty of experience with both historic homes and businesses in historic buildings. Give us a caw!

Travis Nolan