Painting and Dry Rot Repair in San Diego

What is dry rot? It isn't what most people think: dry wood that is rotten. It actually is the opposite: wet wood that is rotten! Typically dry rot is found behind a surface, like paint or metal. Dry rot is caused by water that gets behind a painted surface and sits on the wood causing long term decay. It is common to see this type of rot in poorly installed windows, especially the window sills. Decks are notorious for having a lot of dry rot too. I typically see a lot of dry rot in the coast areas, like La Jolla, Solana Beach and Del Mar. It is less of an issue inland, like Santee, Poway or El Cajon. But again, it depends on how the home was built and how much moisture can cause dry rot problems.

There are at least two ways to repair wood surfaces that have been damaged by dry rot.

1. Replace the wood completely: The most expensive option is to completely remove the damaged wood and replace it with new wood or a composite, non wood product (i.e. PVC, Trex etc). If you opt to use real wood again, it is best to make sure all surfaces of the wood are thoroughly primed and sealed. A common mistake by even the best of carpenters and repair companies is where a carpenter will remove the wood and replace with raw wood, priming only the exposed areas. The same problem of dry rot will most likely occur again because the wood is not properly sealed. All six sides of a wood must be sealed to help avoid dry rot in the future.
2. Patch and Repair with Epoxy & Special Fillers: This is a more economical option. A skilled carpenter can cut out the damaged ares of wood and rebuild the area. He sometimes will use a combination of wood sealer, wood & epoxy. The repairs are made once the surface is completely dry and sealed to prevent further dry rot problems. In the end, most people will not know the difference between a repair and a full replacement. You can work wonders with epoxy and other solid wood fillers. It also prevents having further dry rot issues if done properly.

Chism Brothers Painting is very good at detecting dry rot. We see it often. There is no charge for us to evaluate your home to see if you have any rotten wood surfaces. If you would like a free painting and repair estimate, please don't hesitate to contact us. We don't have any high pressured sales staff. So you will never feel uncomfortable with the way we do business. Our in house employees are highly trained to path, repair and/or replace your damaged dry rot areas. We do this all the time. So email us or call us today: 858-454-3850.