Let’s start with what causes wood rot to occur. Lingering moisture in wood creates an environment favorable to fungi growth, which leads to the wood’s fibers deteriorating. So, when water contacts an unprotected wood surface for a long period of time, the wood begins to rot.
This can be from rain collecting gently on your window sill or from a major leak pouring through your ceiling. Wood rot can be very destructive and costly to fix. These are a couple common areas where water can sit for long periods of time: on a window sill, near an outside door, or under a sink. These areas are going to be more susceptible to wood rot.
How to spot the rot:
Sometimes wood can be easily visible, in plain sight and quite often it will be hidden. For example behind cracked paint or underneath the siding. Something you should always keep in mind during your search: wood should not be soft when you press on it!!
To look at the health of the wooden components around your home, you do need to give them a good poke with a screwdriver to see if they’re soft. Be on the lookout for any sign of soft, brittle, or crumbly wood. In extreme cases rotten wood may even disintegrate when you touch it. As you are poking around, keep your eyes peeled for discoloration. This is a sign of fungi and rot.
Also, if you find a surface with any peeling paint that feels damp, you may have found a water leak behind that spot. We would suggest investigating further and fixing any leaks you may find. As you’re going around the property looking at damaged paint, check any painted or sealed wooden surfaces on your home’s exterior for cracks in the paint or sealant. Any crack you find, even the small ones, can allow water to work its way into the wooden material, resulting in rot to occur.
You should inspect your home for rotting wood at least once a year. You can make this inspection a regular part of your spring and or fall maintenance routine!
If your worried that you have some wood rot, give us a call for a free estimate. We can walk through the process and give you a detailed quote of what it will take to make sure your home is rot free! Contact Savannah @ 913-634-1169 or info@all-proserviceskc.com.
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