How do you fix rot behind siding?

Fixing the Problem The process usually involves these steps: Expose the wood by removing the siding and water barrier (if there is one) Replace the rotted wood with new wood . The contractor will cut away damaged wood or replace portions that are integral to the structure.

What is the wood under your siding called?

Backerboard. The plywood or cement backer board that is nailed to the exterior wall with studs and lays underneath the external siding panels, which are fastened to it.

What can you put on wood to stop rotting?

Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.

How do you know if wood is rotted under siding?

Use the screwdriver to poke the area under the warped siding. If it feels soft or spongy , there's a good chance the under layer has begun to rot and needs to be repaired or replaced right away. While you have the screwdriver on you, use the handle to tap on small areas all around the siding.

How do you waterproof behind siding?

House Wraps Under Vinyl Siding The most common usage of house wrap is to entirely surround the house directly over the sheathing and beneath the vinyl siding with a light paper-like material. Its main function is to keep water and air from leaking through the vinyl exterior.

Should there be plywood behind siding?

A missed stud can result in a situation where overtime the fiber cement siding can sag and break from its own weight. Due to this, we strongly recommend the installation of a heavier structural type of sheathing to eliminate this issue all together. The half-inch OSB or 7/16-inch plywood both fulfill that need.

What is the best wood for under siding?

Sheathing Like OSB Wood Panels The sheathing often consists of OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood. These panels are fasted to the studs. In some houses other materials are used as sheathing, like boards in older homes or rigid foam and steel straps in newer houses.

What material goes under siding?

Underlayment or weather-resistive barrier (WRB) is installed between the siding and the sheathing. This can be tar paper or a house wrap, such as HardieWrap® or Tyvek HomeWrap®.

What goes at the bottom of siding?

Underlayment: water-resistive material placed under vinyl siding panels.

What happens if water gets behind siding?

Water damage compromises the integrity of your home's protective layer , providing the perfect environment to host unwanted pests. Moisture intrusion attracts termites, carpenter ants, and other destructive pests into your home, causing the need for extensive repairs.

Can you cover rotted wood with vinyl siding?

Never Install Vinyl Siding Over Rot And Mold One of the biggest things to keep an eye out for is signs of rot or mold in your wood siding. Unfortunately, wood can be susceptible to water build-up, so it's more likely to have issues with rot or mold than vinyl siding.

Is it normal for water to get behind siding?

The most common reason that water gets behind your home's protective layer is simply siding failure . Like everything else around your house, this material gets old and starts to wear down over time and through constant exposure to rain, sun, and other weather elements.

What is the black stuff behind my siding?

Those little black dots on the siding Known as “ artillery fungus ,” this organism is harmless to people, pets, and plants and is actually doing good by decaying wood. However, the dots are a landscape nuisance and are very hard to remove once they dry.

Preventing Rot Beneath Your Siding In Central MA (2024)

We Encounter SERIOUS Rot During Siding And Window Installations All…The…Time.

Here’s Why Rot Happens, What To Do About It, And How You Can Prevent It.

Rotted wood is one of the most common AND insidious problems we encounter when removing siding from homes in Massachusetts.

Depending on the siding you have and how it was installed, you might have rotten wood underneath it and not have ANY visible evidence.

So what can be done about it?

The answer is not much other than replacing the affected wood and making sure everything is sealed and that flashing is properly installed. If you don’t do that, it will just wind up happening again.

As with most things, the best policy is prevention.

Why Does Rot Occur Underneath Siding?

If you have James Hardie fiber cement siding or even wood siding, it is mainly a matter of making sure everything is installed and sealed properly. With vinyl, it is much harder to avoid. Because vinyl siding is DESIGNED to allow water to seep behind it, it makes your home especially susceptible to water damage.

While the vinyl itself is completely waterproof, the wood underneath is far from it. Your frame can begin to rot without you having a clue.

If you have vinyl siding, you need to be extra vigilant to prevent rot from RUINING your home’s frame.

Even if you don’t have vinyl siding, you might not be in the clear.

With James Hardie fiber cement siding and high-quality wood siding, you shouldn’t have to worry about water seeping behind it as long as it is properly installed AND sealed.

The problem is ANY cracks, damaged panels, or poorly sealed gaps can be a means for water to seep in.

What Should You Do About Rotted Wood?

If you find wood rot anywhere in your home, it is best to deal with it IMMEDIATELY. The longer you wait, the more it will cost in the long run.

There is no way to repair wood that has begun to rot, so any wooden beams or panels that have started to rot will need to be replaced. Lumber costs are high right now, so the sooner you bite the bullet and fix the damage, the less you’ll have to pay for it.

In addition to replacing the wood itself, you should fix all the related issues that led to the rot in the first place. If a poorly sealed window were to blame, it would need to be dealt with, or the problem is just going to come back again.

Similarly, if the problem was with your siding, you should consider opting for different siding materials. You also might want to consider vetting your siding contractors more. Most of them probably don’t have as many awards and accoladesas we do!

How Can You Prevent Rot From Happening?

If your wood is rotting, it means something in your home is not functioning properly. All it takes is one leaky window, one loose shingle, or one siding gap that wasn’t sealed right, and water can seep in and wreak havoc.

While any type of siding (other than vinyl) can provide protection against water damage, we’re partial to James Hardie fiber cement siding.

James Hardie siding can remain intact for fifty years or more when done right. No other siding option offers that kind of longevity.

What We Can Do!

We are Central MA’s siding EXPERTS, but we handle more than just that.

If we find any signs of rot in your frame or anywhere else, we will notify you immediately. We will also offer a plan of action addressing how to stop it from advancing and remove it altogether.

With any luck, we can not only eliminate it, but we can prevent it from coming back.