Many components of the home are made of wood. Wood is a material that has the ability to decay or rot unless kept dry and in the right conditions. You should routinely check your home for wood rot and mold contamination. Mold growth can be dangerous to your health, as well as cause serious damage to your furnishings and structural elements of your home.
Locate rotting wood. When searching for rotting wood, you want to thoroughly check any places that could be affected by moisture or that may have bad air circulation. Look for areas where the walls or ceilings are discolored, warped floors or even condensation build up on you windows. Test areas by using a screwdriver, to punch into the wood to see if it is still solid. Also check to see if you feel any dampness in the area. Some interior places to check are bathrooms and kitchens, basements, crawl spaces, and attics. Some exterior places you should also check are windows, door frames, any place that touches the ground, siding, roof, decks, foundations, vents and gutters. If you find any rotted wood, figure out where the moisture is coming from. Fix the source of the problem in order to prevent future or repeat wood rot problems.
Repair rotting wood. If your wood is not to rotten you can try to repair it. You can use a liquid wood hardener and putty epoxy to repair your wood rotted areas. Scrape away any areas of the wood that is rotting or that will crumble easily and let the area dry. Drill holes in a honeycombed pattern to help the liquid wood hardener reach any decayed areas. Fill in the drilled holes, and scraped away areas, with the liquid wood hardener and allow areas to dry completely. Then use the putty epoxy to cover the area and fill in any cracks. After the putty epoxy hardens you can sand it down to make the area smooth. Replace rotting wood. If your wood is rotted beyond repair you will need to replace the rotted wood. Consider replacing with an alternative to wood, such as cellular PVC. PVC is a solid material that can be used in the same way as wood. PVC will not rot, is insect resistant, looks like wood, has a matted finish and is paintable. PVC material can be used for trim, crown moldings, shutters, window boxes and other architectural accents.
To keep your house a safe place, start an annual routine to check for wood rot. Depending on how knowledgeable you are, you may be able to turn this into a do-it-yourself project. However, if you are uncomfortable with the situation or your abilities, it may be better to contact a professional.