Wood Replacement
7 Problems And Solutions For A Rotting Deck
Who doesn’t like a beautiful deck in the summertime? Even though you may be enjoying your time relaxing or grilling out with family and friends I’m confident you have noticed and said to yourself, “My deck is rotting.” Today we are talking about 7 problems and solutions for a rotting deck.
7 Problems And Solutions For A Rotting Deck
My Deck is rotting are four words that come up quite often every spring and summer. To help keep your deck from rotting here is a list of seven free solutions that you can apply.
- Trees – Start by trimming back your trees since they can attract ants and other bugs.
- Leaves – Removing leaves that are sitting on your deck or that have collected around the base of the deck and the deck pillars.
- Berries – Berries that fall of the trees attract ants who then build nests in soft spots in the wood.
- Sap – Cleaning up the sap that falls from the trees. It can be hard to remove if it is left to bake in the sun.
- Proper Ventilation – Proper ventilation is needed if the deck is built close to the ground.
- Potted Plants – keep all potted plants elevated off the horizontal boards of the deck and benches.
- Downspouts – they tend to collect water around and near the base of the deck. It is important to make sure that all of your downspouts are directed far enough away from the deck.
Proper Ventilation, Potted Plants, And Downspouts
When building a deck that is too low to the ground air can’t get underneath and causes moisture to become trapped underneath and will cause your deck to rot. Because your deck needs air, it is important to give it proper ventilation. And this can be fixed by building your deck high enough off the ground.
People are often surprised when their deck starts rotting near where they keep potted plants. This is because water drips down from the flowers and keeps the deck wet a decent amount of time and isn’t given enough time to dry. The damp woods also attracts ants who will then begin nesting in the softwood. Keeping the pots elevated off the deck floor will prevent the water from staying on the deck as well as keeping the ants away. Mulched or Stoned edging areas are good places to keep potted plants. The weather can play a part in causing rot to your deck as well.
Downspouts are the most prominent man-made issue. Often the downspout isn’t draining water far enough away from the deck causing the deck to absorb the moisture. This is an easily fixable problem. Because you can go to the hardware store and purchase additional pieces to add to the end of your downspouts and extending them further from the deck. Water can also cause any paint on your deck to start peeling.
Trees, Sap, Leaves, And Berries
While trees can be a fantastic addition to any property by giving shade to your home and the backyard. They also cause problems, besides attracting insects and losing their leaves every fall. One thing that trees do is drop sap. Tree sap is one of the worst things to have on your deck. This is because it looks like sprinkles of water as well as retains dirt. Making the deck look dirty. The sun causes the sap to bake onto the deck and it is hard to get off which damages the wood. A solution to keep sap off of your deck is to trim the trees back and clean the sap off the deck as soon as possible.
Leaves and berries are two other problems that are created by trees. When the leaves fall off the trees in the fall, they collect on the deck as well as around the base. If the leaves aren’t cleared away right or adequately after they fall, then they start to decay. Like the water from potted plants, berries also attract ants. Since they like to nest in the wood ants are a pain to get rid of. Especially in the summer. Because they return to the deck to nest every year. To help keep ants away make sure that the trees are trimmed back.
Lotz Of Logic
You will be able to great lengthen the life of your deck by remembering to keep leaves, downspouts, potted plants, and insects away from the deck. With the biggest solution to keep your trees trimmed back and keeping the deck adequately ventilated. The same goes for your fence as well. Especially if you have a fenced-in garden or a dog run. And don’t forget to check out this deck stain and seal testimonial.
Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on fixing a rotting deck, give me a call. My team and I have been serving St. Charles, Warrenville, Wheaton, Winfield, Geneva, Batavia, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.
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How to Prevent Wood From Rotting – Behind Gutters & Window Frames
Have you noticed that some of your trim is starting to rot on your home? And wondered why? Click on the video below for the full explanation, but let’s go over a few reasons why it might be happening, and then how to prevent wood from rotting in the future, especially behind gutters & window frames.
How to Prevent Wood Rot
How to prevent wood rot should be done in the main areas that collect extra water such as bottom areas of door frames, bottom areas of window frames (sill area), and fascia behind the gutters, especially the corners.
Why is this happening? Generally, these areas are not properly caulked, primed or painted. Concrete and brick have a tendency to be extremely porous. When it rains, they penetrate the brick or concrete and later leach or weep up into the wood later.
How to solve this evident problem? Properly seal and caulk these areas.
Now for gutters that meet the corner, this is another area of concern. Many gutters are not properly flashed or the gutter has a hole in it and water gets behind the fascia board, causing rot.
How to solve the gutter problems? Make sure your gutters are properly sealed, have good flashing, and caulking is going everywhere.
Recap
To sum up, take the time to go out once in the spring and once in the fall to check for the door frame and window frame areas. Also, check near and behind gutters too. This will save on wood replacement the following year when wet rot will rear its ugly head. Also, make sure that you check your deck for wood rot as well. Because it is important to prevent rotting wood it is also important to know when to replace or repaint old trim work.
Give me a call if you need an estimate on how to prevent wood rot near your gutters and window frame areas. My team and I have been serving St. Charles, Warrenville, Wheaton, Winfield, Geneva, Batavia, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.
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Related Videos
Wood Replacement – Dry Rot Leads to Warping
Home Improvement Vimeo Video Channel
Wood Siding Warping (Avoid It!) – Wood Siding Maintenance Tips
Are you noticing that your cedar wood siding is starting to warp? That is a clear sign you have some issues that must be addressed sooner than later. The video below talks about wood siding warping (and how to avoid it) and some great wood siding maintenance tips. [ Click in the middle of the video below on the arrow to play the video.
Wood Siding Maintenance
So let’s go through the proper maintenance schedule (for most homes). I always recommend staining cedar siding solid body stain every six to eight years (2 coats). And every three to five years for semi-transparent stain (2 coats). And home exterior staining should mean more than just staining the exterior cedar siding.
Why is Wood Siding Warping?
Typically the reason wood siding is warping is due to the improper maintenance schedule, age, and mother nature. Typically the cedar wood siding is drying out. When they dry out, the beveled siding (that is supposed to lay on top of one another) is now siding to shrink because of drying.
There are now openings. What can get into those openings? Yep, you guessed it – bugs, birds, carpenter bees, rain, mold, algae – you name it!
To sum up, a cedar sided home does require money and time to properly maintain it. They are beautiful homes, but they do need some tender loving care. If you stain it on a consistent staining cycle and replace rotten or dried out-boards every 3-5 years, it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Give me a call if you need an estimate of wood siding replacement or wood staining on your house siding. My team and I have been serving Orland Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park, New Lenox, Lemont, Orland Hills, Palos Park, St John IN, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.
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Repair Woodpecker Damage on House Siding
Home Improvement Vimeo Video Channel
Repair Woodpecker Damage | Holes in Cedar Wood Siding
Your home needs regular maintenance, but real paint can be repair woodpecker damage due to holes in cedar wood siding caused by that beautiful winged creature.
Repair Woodpecker Damage and Holes
It’s amazing how much damage birds and insects can cause to a home’s cedar siding. But if not attended to, it can become a much bigger issue. So what do you do if you have woodpeckers causing holes in your cedar siding? It’s not really that big of a deal. Just fill the hole with a colored caulk (to match your siding color) or a clear caulk. If you don’t do this, other birds will biggy-back on that hole or carpenter bees, and make a bigger issue. So get those holes caulked.
Replacing Woodpecker Damaged Siding
When do you need to take it to the next step? When you have many cedar wood siding boards that have caulked holes, then you need to have a contractor come out and replace the boards altogether. I’d suggest getting this done when you are doing the regular 5-7 year staining of your home. That way, those boards you replaced don’t stick out like a sore thumb. They would stand out because they are recently stained, and the rest of the home isn’t. Also make sure that you keep an eye out for warping.
Give me a call at 815-260-6773. I’d love to come out and look at your damaged wood siding and help you out. My team and I have been serving Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Oakbrook Terrace, Lombard, Carol Stream, Westmont, Willowbrook, Woodridge, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.
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Related Videos or Blog
Best Exterior Wood Stain to Use on Siding
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Check out our Vimeo channel with 100+ videos on home repairs
Blog Link: Repair Woodpecker Damage
Wood Siding Replacement Chicago Area
Wood siding replacement Chicago – Rotten wood siding needs to be replaced to maintain your home’s appearance.
Photo shows new cedar siding boards being installed after taking down numerous rotten cedar siding boards. We also prime the back of the siding prior to installing for more longevity!
We are the only painting company around that does staining & rotten board replacement at the same time. And we make sure that it stays like new and doesn’t warp on you.
Call our support team at 815-260-6773 and we can discuss your project today.
Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on Wood siding replacement Chicago, give me a call. My team and I have been serving Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Glenview, Northbrook, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.
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