Should you paint over rotted wood?
Should you paint over rotted wood? The obvious answer is no. There were quite a few articles I came across showing you how to paint over rotten wood.This struck me as odd,and a perfect example as to why you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet! Painting over rotten wood can seem like a quick and easy solution, however while this takes care of the visual aspects it will not address the underlying issue. If your home has some trim pieces that seem to have a little bit of rot or mold, you might be considering just painting over, especially with wood being so expensive right now, however in this case you will want to take the more challenging road! For the most part out of sight out of mind isn't the best way to deal with possible structural damage to your home. In this blog we have laid out some of the reasons for dark spots or damaged wood that painting over just wont work nor be good for long term reasons.
A few reasons you shouldn't paint over rotten wood are simply as follows
- Your paint will crack and bubble
- You'll get mold recurrence
- Your paint will discolor
- You'll have to use more paint
- Your could be making a deeper issue
Replacing the area of rotten wood will varey of course depending on what area you need to replace. Below is an easy guide to fixing a smaller, easier section of wood. The steps are basically the same if you are replacing rotten fencing or a backyard deck. If you have a specific area you would like instructions on feel free to email us at honeydopainting9@gmail.com.
- You will want to start with measuring and evaluating the area of rot to see how much damage is there and how much repairing you need to do.
- Then you will want to clear the rotted wood using your rasp or chisel. Remove rotted wood carefully. This takes a gentle hand and the right amount of pressure.
- Now apply wood hardener. You can find wood hardener at your local home improvement store.
- Applying filler wood putty or epoxy is the best agent to fill the wood. Using a putty knife apply the putty to the areas that need to be filled.
How can I prevent wood rot?
Some ways you can prevent wood rot are by using decay-resistant or pressure-treated lumber for decks. Wood that touches the ground should be pressure-treated lumber that's rated for ground contact. When building an exterior project with wood, stain or paint all sides of each lumber before assembly. Boric acid is often used during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing. There are also plenty of hacks and tricks you can learn from friends that I have, for example, for brown rot you can use baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and vinegar. Preventing wood rot will save you from a great deal of work and money, however if you already have the wood rot it is best to replace the wood itself and start fresh!
I hope you found this blog useful, if you have any questions on wood rot please give us a call at (208) 669-1790!
