Rotted wood on window frame
Wood rot on windows, doors and frames can be a big problem. The humidity in Southeastern Minnesota summers and the addition of humidifiers set too high in airtight homes during the winter can cause windows of your home to collect moisture, and damage your door and window frames causing the wood to rot. Your home inspector will note and point out these areas in your home inspection report. If you paint over the rotten wood the surface looks poor and continues to deteriorate. Replacing these windows can be too expensive. One answer to this problem is patching the wood with epoxy filler.
Several types of fillers are available. You can compare the filler to “Bondo” (a filler used for car body repair). Bondo is an epoxy patch for metal that makes surfaces look like new, much like an epoxy filler will do for your wood frames.
For wood preparation you need to perform a full inspection of the affected area and remove all of the soft or “punky” wood. Any small remaining soft wood areas can be solidified with a liquid consolidant. You then patch the surface with an epoxy patch. The patching material can be the consistency of stiff putty or almost a liquid, depending on the product used and the mixture.
All epoxy products consist of a two-part mix. You first add the hardener to a base product and mix thoroughly. The product cures through a chemical reaction. Setting time will depend on the hardener and the ambient temperature/humidity level.
You can make a wood or cardboard form and pour or shape the patch to almost any contour. Once the product is cured you can sand and file it to the precise shape needed. The next step is to surface-finish, paint, or stain the newly treated surface.
Epoxy is great for repairing wood surfaces. When properly used, it can restore the structural integrity of your door or window frame.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com
