Dry rot is a type of dampness primarily found in aged homes and buildings. If left untreated, it can cause wooden structures to weaken and the building’s foundation will get disturbed. Normally, rotted wood is found in ignored areas and isn’t discovered until the damage from flooding or humidity makes it impossible to ignore. Here is more on what happens when you leave rotted wood unaddressed.

The Structure Gets Damaged

Many people ignore or dismiss rotted wood as nothing more than a sign of age. However, it shouldn’t be ignored. If rotted wood isn’t taken care of, permanent structural damage will happen. Your timber—or any other material in your home—will deteriorate and collapse. Buildings can fall apart if they have problems with rotten wood that don’t get taken care of immediately.

The Signs of Rotted Wood

Early signs that your wood has begun to rot include cracking, cotton-like fungus, and darkening and shrinking. The late signs that your wood is decayed—and it might be a sign the wood is unsalvageable— are continuous fungal growth, peeled wood pieces, and a musty smell. There is, however, a difference in rot. Rot can either be wet or dry. Read more about the two kinds below.

• Dry rot affects timber and can cause wood to crack along its grain, which gives the wood a spongy, soft texture. Think of dry rot as a virus; it can live in walls and travel between enclosures to spread itself elsewhere.
• Wet rot, on the other hand, doesn’t spread like a virus. Instead, the decay stays in one damp area, creates a pungent stench, and discolors the wood around it.

Both dry rot and wet rot can manifest in a home’s structure to the point of creating irreparable damage.

How To Fix Rotted Wood

Rotted wood can be taken care of (as long as the damage isn’t too extensive.)

Fix rotted wood by reaching out to a company with professional carpenters in Cumming, GA. The professionals will determine the best course of action. Bear Mountain Custom Painting can replace your rotted wood and even apply a protectant to help protect the wood from rotting. Don’t let your home’s structure suffer through moistened and weak foundations. Instead, get it replaced to help enhance the structure’s life.

In our guide on what happens when you leave rotted wood unaddressed, we reviewed how your structure gets damaged, the signs of rot, and what you can do to fix it. Bear Mountain Custom Painting provides outstanding services with mending your home’s structure by replacing rotted wood.

If you keep up with your wood siding, it can last for years to come. However, if you don’t take care of the siding, such as applying paint, you can risk the possibility of your home’s age showing and the material cracking. Help improve the looks of your wood siding with these tips for painting wooden exterior siding. If you would like a complimentary quote from our siding installation contractors in Alpharetta, please give us a call.

Powerwash the Siding

Before you can start painting the sides of your house, you need to clear excess dirt or debris that has accumulated over time. While clearing out dirt and debris with a power washer, use a stiff-bristled brush to wipe away any complicated areas. To help remove dirt and debris faster, you can increase the water pressure, but not so high that it begins to damage your wooden siding. Our house painting contractors in Alpharetta always clean your wood siding and professionally prep the surface for painting.

Clear Out Loose Paint or Debris

There’s likely more debris on the siding, so to help remove that and any loose paint chips, use an electric sander or sanding block to help remove the pieces and debris. If you plan to use an electric sander, ensure you use firm pressure on the siding, so you don’t harm the surface of the wood. The electric sander and sanding stone can help smooth out edges that seem a tiny bit rough. By using either sander, you can eliminate splintered areas and remove loose wooden pieces that stick out.

Apply Primer Paint

Before the actual coat of paint can go on, you need to add a coat of primer to help prep and protect the wood sidings by keeping them saturated while you paint. While applying your primer, you might need to use it twice if the wood absorbs the paint too quickly. Our house painters in Woodstock recommend that you watch out for bare areas – you don’t want to leave any behind.

Fill Seams and Cracks With Caulk

It’s tricky to know what kind of caulk is appropriate to use for sealing gaps. When applying new exterior siding installations in Cumming, GA, it’s essential to contact a professional who can help give suitable recommendations on the type of caulk you need to fill in the cracks and seams of your wooden siding. The best type to get is an acrylic-based caulk that can line and shape and easily wipes away with a damp rag to even out the lines. Before painting, let the caulk rest for a few hours.

Our tips for painting wooden exterior siding are only part of our process to get you the correct information to know ahead of painting your exterior. Through Bear Mount Custom Painting, you’ll find a qualified painter who can guide you through the process of painting your exterior and the rest of your home, if you choose. From house painting in Westfield, GA to concrete coatings in Alpharetta, give us a call.

If you have gutters, you should check that they aren’t clogged. If they are, that could lead to them potentially flooding your home and yard. When the drains become clogged, they won’t have the ability to dispense water away from your home. Instead of water draining correctly, it’ll pour from the sides, landing in areas that can cause foundation damage, structural issues, and even cause mold and mildew to grow in your basement. These issues cost a lot to fix, and homeowners end up having to pay thousands of dollars in damage. If you want to avoid these problems, read our guide on how to tell if your gutters are clogged.

There Are Birds or Pests by Your Roof

Birds and squirrels are adorable—but not if they’re nesting in your gutters. If you see any furry creatures scurrying down the drainpipes or bird nesting in the opening of your downpipes, you may have clogged troughs. It’s essential to remove the nests and pests from your gutters with the help of a certified professional. They’ll remove all animals and debris.

Water Spills Over the Sides

There might be a problem if water is splashing over the sides of your home. Any items that block water flow from drains can cause water to descend from the sides of your home. For instance, if your basement floods when it storms, that’s because of water spillage coming from your gutters. At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we don’t want to see you do home gutter installation or inspections on your own. Cleaning gutters and installing new ones is a job that only professionals can take care of.

You Can’t Remember When You Last Cleaned

Remembering to clean your gutters can sometimes be a challenge. It often gets overlooked; homeowners assume gutter debris will fall away or drain out with the rain. That, unfortunately, is far from the truth. If you climb up a ladder now and see stockpiled rubbish from this past year, your gutters are severely clogged and need cleaning. Cleaning your gutters is something you should never overlook. Luckily, you can rely on Bear Mountain Custom Painting to do all of the wet and heavy work for you.

Gutters are extremely overlooked, and that’s because we believe nothing bad can happen to them. However, they’ll become clogged eventually—it’s inevitable. Before winter strikes, be sure clean out your gutters so you aren’t stuck fixing repairs in weather that’s below zero degrees. Instead of prolonging damage or improving gutter problems in the winter, call Bear Mountain Custom Painting. We’re happy to do all the work for you so your home—and its foundation—are protected.