Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Stop Rotting Exterior Wood
Moisture plays a large part in creating rotten wood on the exterior of a house. Old window sills are a prime target because they’re exposed to rain and moisture so they’re susceptible to damage. To tackle this type of repair, here’s what’s involved:

Steps to Repair Wood

1. Remove as much of the rotten wood as possible using a chisel, putty knife, or scraper.

2. If there is soft wood apply a liberal coat of High Performance Wood Hardener to stabilize it. Keep the area wet until no more hardener is absorbed by the wood. To prevent the rot from spreading, drill small holes around the soft area. Angle the holes downward so the hardener will run into each hole and be absorbed by the wood.

3. If necessary, scrape out the rotten wood and fill the void with High Performance Wood Filler. It’s a two part polyester based filler that cures chemically. Translated that means once you’ve filled the hole, the patch won’t shrink, crack, or fall out. It has the consistency of thick frosting and, since it comes in two parts, you only mix the amount you need. After it’s hardened, sand the patched area smooth. Apply a high-quality exterior paint to protect the patched area. Hint: To remove the excess hardener around the base, use acetone.

Written by the editors of HouseNet.
Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

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