How to Treat Rotted Wood

Wood rot is a problem faced by every home owner. Even new homes often suffer rot damage within a few years if the wood used in the construction began in a damp environment. Rot occurs because moisture has settled into the wood, which softens the pulp. Wet climates, where rainfall levels are high, cause this problem. Contractors primarily replace rather than repair damaged wood. This method is often extremely expensive. Instead, try a few techniques and materials handy homeowners use to treat wood rot, rather than paying a contractor top dollar to replace the damaged material.

Putty knife
Small heater (optional)
Blow dryer
220-grit sandpaper
Vacuum
Epoxy wood filler

Instructions

- 1
  
  The damaged area must be removed before it is treated.
  
  Remove the wood rot damage. Use a metal putty knife to scrape out the damaged wood, which is often either dry and brittle or soft and spongy.
- 2
  Dry out the damaged area. Wait until the rainy season is over or there is a week of dry weather before removing water-damaged wood. Too much moisture in the air keeps the wood from drying out. Use a smaller home heater to dry large patches of wood rot. A large area is considered any area more than 12 x 12 inches. Use a blow dryer for smaller areas of damage.
- 3
  
  All debris must be removed from the wood's surface before the final step.
  
  Sand the damaged area with 220-grit sandpaper. If any soft spots are still present, either sand or scrape the area again. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any debris leftover from scraping or sanding. This step is extremely important. Any loose debris left on the wood will create a barrier between the epoxy filler and the wood, resulting in a poor bond.
- 4
  Mix the epoxy filler. Epoxy fillers consist of two parts, a resin and a hardener. The resin only hardens if the two parts are completely mixed together. Epoxy resin fillers have a 15- to 20-minute gel time. Gel time refers to how long a resin has before it starts to harden.
- 5
  Apply epoxy filler to the damaged area with a metal putty knife. Create three layers of filler. The first layer fills in the majority of the damaged area and seals the wood. The second layer fills in any remaining gaps or dips. The third layer fills in any surface imperfections. After each layer dries, lightly sand the filler's surface with 220-grit sandpaper. After the final layer of filler is applied, sand so the filler is level with the surrounding wood.

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