4 MIN READ
Signs Of Rotted Trim
Protecting your home as the safe environment in which you and your family live, is a top priority for most homeowners. In addition, knowing it is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make is another priority as you will want to choose a specialist you trust to conduct any home repairs you may have. Furthermore, one of the more common repairs we see is repairing or replacing rotted trim on your house.
SFW Construction is a home restoration company serving the Pacific Northwest. We can help you improve your house trim and preserve the integrity of your home. Call today for a free consultation on how to repair or replace rotten trim!
House Trim
For example, you can find the trim on your home on both the exterior and interior surfaces. The finishing materials which make up interior trim include moldings constructed around windows and doors and the baseboards and cornices applied on the wall adjacent to the floors and ceilings of individual rooms.
The finishing materials which make up exterior house trim are moldings constructed around various openings, including windows, doors, vents, and shutters. The exterior trim also entails the fascia boards on the roof’s edge and the soffits located beneath the roof.
More elaborate home designs sometimes feature a horizontal trim board that runs beneath the fascia, as well as scalloped gable boards, corbels and carvings, and shutters around the windows – all of which are considered part of the trim. Regardless of the materials used to construct your home, the trim material is likely wood with brick, stone, or stucco siding.
The Purpose of House Trim
The purpose of trim on the house is twofold: it is a decorative aesthetic that can paint to accentuate the color of wall surfaces. It reduces the influx of rain and moisture by securing and sealing the corners and edges of your home. While the exterior trim on your home has a specific functional purpose, it is also highly susceptible to wood rot because it represents the outermost portion of your home.
The Inevitability of Rotted Trim
Being constantly exposed to weather means the exterior trim on your home will eventually become permeated with moisture, which leads to trim damage and wood rot. If not repaired or replaced, the rot can quickly spread throughout your home and to the inner structure of your house frame. But don’t fret! Rotted trim is a pure inevitability of combining wood and wet and happens to all homes.
Rotted trim can occur in a matter of a few years after being installed in original condition – which is why it’s essential to perform a regular home inspection for signs of rotted trim.
Spotting Signs of Rotted Trim
Rotted trim is detectable by the visible signs associated with wood that is deteriorating. Trim rotting or dry rot often appears to be run-down, the paint cracked, flaking, or peeling. Rotted trim will also tend to appear discolored or darker in color and may have signs of mold, fungus, or green algae growing on the exterior.
Inspect Your Trim
It’s a good idea to perform a home inspection for trim rot once every couple of years. Walk around your house and examine the trim, focusing on areas where rot is most prevalent, such as the edges of the trim, where it adjoins the ground and roofline, as well as windowsills and other places where water collects.
If the trim rot is advanced, you will see visible indications – trim boards may even show signs of warping. However, if there are no visible signs, push the end of a screwdriver or small knife against the wood to see how it responds. If it is spongy or easily punctured by the tool, the trim is rotted and should be repaired or replaced.
Why it is So Important to Repair or Replace Rotted Trim
Repairing or replacing rotted trim with healthy trim is essential because wood rot will continue to spread throughout your frame and can invade the structure of your home. Wood rot, also know as dry rot, is caused by a fungus that thrives on moist wood and proliferates actively, which means you must eradicate the problem to resolve it – or it will continue to spread and deteriorate the wooden structures of your home. Rotting trim will also eventually disintegrate and fall apart, making it unsafe as well as a detriment to the aesthetic and value of your home.
Preventing Trim Rot
Prevention is better than cure, so if your trim is in good shape – or after your rotted trim has been repaired or replaced – we recommend a few simple steps for preventing future trim rot:
- Seal window and door cracks with caulking;
- Replace old caulk with fresh caulking;
- Clean gutters regularly to avoid rainwater running spilling down the side of your home;
- Install a covered entryway to keep the rain away from the doors;
- Use a dehumidifier to prevent high humidity;
- Maintain freshly painted window frames and siding
Free Trim Rot Consultation and Professional Trim Repair
The first step to address the problem of rotting trim is to assess the extent of the trim damage. SFW Construction provides free and comprehensive expert consultations on repairing and replacing trim rot. After performing a thorough examination of your house trim, we provide you with repair options and work with you to arrive at a sensible plan of action. We intend to help you fortify and preserve the integrity and value of your home.
Call SFW Construction today for a free consultation!