Painting & Caulking Can Help Prevent Wood Rot on Your Home

When we think about keeping our homes safe, we may often envision high-tech surveillance systems that deter any trouble. But we often forget about protecting the very foundation that keeps the home standing: the wood.

Many homes can suffer structural damage caused by wood rot that ends up costing more in repairs the longer it is left unchecked. With wood rot, prevention is the key. And you’ll find it’s easier and much more cost efficient to prevent rot rather than to fix it.

What is wood rot?

Wood rot is a form of decay triggered by the combination of moisture and fungi. When the conditions are perfectly damp by moisture trapped in your wood, these microscopic organisms will make themselves at home. If you already have wood rot on the home, you will need to do some wood rot repair work by replacing the wood.

Lingering moisture for long periods of time on an unprotected wood surface is what makes the surface conducive for the fungi to grow. And given enough time, the fungi will eat away at the very fibers that give wood its strength, destroying it beyond repair.

What areas are most vulnerable?

If you want to prevent wood rot, you need to keep the wood dry. Unlike major water leaks or broken windows, rotting wood can easily go undetected, unless you specifically look for it. In humid climates and during warmer months especially, your home is susceptible to trapping moisture that will eventually create the perfect conditions for fungi growth and wood rot.

Essentially, wherever there are cracks or crevices where water and oxygen can penetrate, there will be an open invitation for wood rot. There are a few key places you’ll want to keep an eye on to protect and/or keep sealed:

-framing members, plywood sheathing, trim

-crevices and holes in the caulking around windows, doors, dryer vents, etc.

-cracked or peeling paint, especially in areas exposed to direct weather

Painting & sealing with caulking can help prevent wood rot

If you want to prevent wood rot from occurring, you need to first find the source and eliminate it.  All cracks around exterior doors and windows that allow water to penetrate into wood crevices need to be sealed with a high-quality acrylic latex exterior caulk. If the caulk is old and hardened, it needs to be scraped away and replaced with fresh caulk.

Exteriors coated with water repellent paints or stains will keep the dreaded moisture out. Wood siding especially will benefit from this protection, while still giving your home the look you desire. You may also need to repaint exterior windows if paint is cracking or peeling. More importantly, when properly primed and treated beforehand, a uniform coat of paint will prevent future cracks and crevices that can expose your wood to moisture.

Keeping wood painted and sealed is the most basic form of maintenance you can do for your home. If you’re interested in seeing how you can save your home and your money with preventative care, schedule an estimate with our experts today.