Homeowners may save a substantial amount of money by learning how to repair rot and decay on wooden windows. The process involves putting on a primer, adding an epoxy, and finishing with paint or stain, and a waterproof sealer. Windows will look as good as new, instead of feeling spongy and soft, and crumbly when touched.
The main enemies of a wooden window are sun and moisture. Both occur in nature every day, but moisture is the more malevolent of the two. The fungus which causes dry rot thrives in moist, unventilated conditions, such as those present between a layer of paint and a window sill. Excessive moisture, a damaged finish, or failed caulking, are just some of the reasons that wooden windows develop rot.
Removing the rotten wood is the first step in repairing the window. With either a knife or a paint scraper, homeowners should dig out old paint, and decayed wood, until they uncover a layer of new wood. Homeowners then need to dry and sand the new wood, because paint needs a dry, coarse surface, for adherence.
After prepping the surface, homeowners should apply a primer. Depending on the brand, the preparatory liquid is either known as primer, or consolidant. It usually consists of two liquids, with equal parts of each mixed together. The primer, or consolidant, pre-treats the surface, by soaking into the wood grain.
The primer provides a solid base for the epoxy filler. If the dry rot goes down to the framing, homeowners should drill small, downward sloping holes, and then inject the consolidant. After application, the primer should be allowed to cure, according to the manufacturer's directions.
After primer has cured, homeowners should apply the epoxy. After mixing, the epoxy should be applied with a trowel, and pressed into damaged areas, or gaps in the wood. When the epoxy has cured, according to manufacturer instructions, it may be sanded, and then primed and painted, or stained. When the topcoat of paint or stain is complete, homeowners should cover the wood with four or five coats of waterproof sealer.
A rotten window is both an eyesore, and a beacon for fungal growth and moisture problems. Homeowners who learn how to repair rot and decay on wooden windows, however, will easily be able to fix this cosmetic problem. Learning this simple repair will also allow homeowners to save a substantial amount on labor costs.
The main enemies of a wooden window are sun and moisture. Both occur in nature every day, but moisture is the more malevolent of the two. The fungus which causes dry rot thrives in moist, unventilated conditions, such as those present between a layer of paint and a window sill. Excessive moisture, a damaged finish, or failed caulking, are just some of the reasons that wooden windows develop rot.
Removing the rotten wood is the first step in repairing the window. With either a knife or a paint scraper, homeowners should dig out old paint, and decayed wood, until they uncover a layer of new wood. Homeowners then need to dry and sand the new wood, because paint needs a dry, coarse surface, for adherence.
After prepping the surface, homeowners should apply a primer. Depending on the brand, the preparatory liquid is either known as primer, or consolidant. It usually consists of two liquids, with equal parts of each mixed together. The primer, or consolidant, pre-treats the surface, by soaking into the wood grain.
The primer provides a solid base for the epoxy filler. If the dry rot goes down to the framing, homeowners should drill small, downward sloping holes, and then inject the consolidant. After application, the primer should be allowed to cure, according to the manufacturer's directions.
After primer has cured, homeowners should apply the epoxy. After mixing, the epoxy should be applied with a trowel, and pressed into damaged areas, or gaps in the wood. When the epoxy has cured, according to manufacturer instructions, it may be sanded, and then primed and painted, or stained. When the topcoat of paint or stain is complete, homeowners should cover the wood with four or five coats of waterproof sealer.
A rotten window is both an eyesore, and a beacon for fungal growth and moisture problems. Homeowners who learn how to repair rot and decay on wooden windows, however, will easily be able to fix this cosmetic problem. Learning this simple repair will also allow homeowners to save a substantial amount on labor costs.
About the Author:
Keeping your sash windows in good repair is a job for the professionals. If you prefer the ambiance of wooden windows, they will need regular maintenance and renovation.
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