Wood Rot Repair Service in Orland Park & Oak Lawn, IL

We all adore wooden elements in our homes because they lend a charmingly rustic feel to even the most modest dwelling. While wood is frequently used as a light structural material for decks, fences, fascia boards, siding, cabinets, and other parts of the house, it is also susceptible to rot. Wood rot occurs when fungi, tiny creatures that develop and rapidly expand over time, weaken and destroy the wood. Water easily enters the water cavity as your wood ages, causing more damage.

Book an appointment online for more information on how our Orland Park deck and patio services can transform your outdoor space today!

Although vinyl and other plastic-based materials appear more popular, wood remains a cult favorite. Unlike plastic products, which bend, warp, melt, and chip easily over time, Wood products are more durable if properly maintained. If you notice signs of deterioration, such as cracked drywall, blocked window locks, buckling in the surface of your floor, discoloration, and more, your best bet is to call an Orland Park handyman.

A carpenter's tool belt filled with tools.

What Exactly Is Wood Rot?

Wood rot, known as wood decay, decimates many hectares of forest each year, which is caused by various fungal species such as brown rot, soft rot, and white rot. A fungus invasion will discolor the wood, cause it to wither, and give it a light, soft, crumbly, or powdery appearance. Fruiting structures known as "conks" will form along the trunk and branches of diseased trees on the forest floor, and mushrooms may start to grow at the base of the trunk or in areas where the tree has been injured or damaged.

Because the degradation process does not begin immediately but takes many years, you may not notice your home's facets fading until it is too late. Diseased and dead branches are removed in the natural world, while young trees are wrapped to protect them from rot.

Wood rot can occur in your home, including the deck, fence, siding, fascia, and window sills. It is best to treat wood rot as soon as possible, regardless of its severity.

Our Professional Orland Park Wood Rot Repair Services

However, it takes a little more effort in the real world because your Orland Park handyman must completely remove any rotten wood before attempting a repair, typically done with a fake replacement such as softwood polyester or a wood patch. Any damp wood component that exceeds the 20% moisture threshold begins to deteriorate at the core and quickly spreads.

In either case, we would not dismiss a wood rot repair outright because doing so could result in long-term structural damage, your home collapsing beneath you, and long-term negative health effects from mold and mildew growth. To make matters worse, because wood rot damage is not considered sudden or unintentional, many standard home insurance policies exclude it.

Types Of Wood Rot

Brown Rot Or Dry Rot: Wood that has dry rot is more prone to drying out because the fungus that causes it enters the wood and destroys its cellulose, causing shrinkage. As a result, timber supports for large objects, such as your laminate, decks, and ceiling beams, will start to deteriorate. because wood rot can spread. Here are a few indicators of dry rot:

  • Damp or decaying timber
  • Fine and fluffy white mycelium, a thick network of fungal threads, which grows from a single spore
  • Deeper cracks in timber brain
  • Brittle or crumbly wood
  • Soft, fleshy fruiting bodies
  • Discolored patches of orange-brown spore dust
  • Odd or musty odors

White Rot: Despite being less prevalent, wood is made of lignin, a polymer that binds the wood's cells to give it its inherent stiffness. Furthermore, once the fungus has entered the wood easily, it consumes the lignin and strips away the deeper hues, leaving a softer, sponge-like texture.

Soft Rot: The secondary cell walls of the wood are penetrated by fungus and bacteria in soft rot, which decomposes wood much more slowly than dry rot or white rot. Soft rot attacks the cellulose first before devouring the lignin, moving slowly but steadily. Although less dangerous than its cousins, leaving it as is is inconvenient because enough will eventually accumulate to compromise the structural integrity of your property.

Our Verified Installation Process

When exposed to moisture from a leaking pipe caused by a sewage backup or overflowing gutters that splash on the siding of your home, wood eventually begins to rot. Unexpectedly, simple methods for removing and replacing rot, such as epoxy, wood filler, or wood patches, make treating wood rot simple. Here are some of the measures we take to use epoxy to fix wood rot:

  1. Remove And Discard: By carefully chiseling away at the edge of the rot with a hammer's claw, our skilled technician will entirely remove the area home to the loose piece of decaying wood. We will apply pressure cautiously to avoid damaging the sound wood in your immediate vicinity.
  2. Router Away: We'll remove any remaining rot using a router tool and a V-shaped bit to guarantee that the strong, healthier wood underneath is exposed. This step is critical because any rot residue left behind can contaminate and spread.
  3. Sand It Off: Any remaining residue on the wood's surface will be scraped off using a paint scraper or coarse sandpaper so that any additional coats or patches we apply will easily adhere to the smooth and clean surface.
  4. Time To Coat: Next, we'll generously treat the selected region with a few coats of wood restorer. We will wait at least two hours before patching the area with an epoxy solution. We will let it dry for a few minutes between coats to allow it to set. 
  5. Bonding: Now, we’ll paint the wood with a bonding agent using a brush.
  6. Epoxy 2.0: Then we’ll apply epoxy to fill out the entire rotted area by mixing both parts until there is a solid color using a gun applicator.
  7. Shape Up: With a putty knife, we will now shape the epoxy and gently press it against the edges and into the crevice of the rotten region to set it in place. The excess will be scraped carefully to match the epoxy solution's edges and corners and create a smooth, level surface.
  8. Set and Sleep: We'll sand, prime, and paint it over once the epoxy has dried completely, which will take at least 24 hours. Because of the exposure to sunlight, priming and painting are required for any outdoor fixtures, such as your deck and fence.
  9. Wood Patch: This is the backup or alternative way of fixing wood rot. As you can see, it is complicated and necessitates dexterity and accuracy that can only be provided by an Orland Park handyman. It is also not something inexperienced people should attempt because the rot can easily reappear if any step is skipped.

Why We Are Top-Of-Mind For Wood Rot Repair

Using an Orland Park wood repair service can help you keep your home's wood components in good condition. Mr. Handyman of Orland Park will restore your wood to its former luster, whether you live in Orland Park or a nearby town. We offer a free consultation, on-site estimates, upfront pricing, and a one-year parts guarantee if you are still unsure. If you are still dissatisfied, we will make the necessary changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Rot Treatment in Orland Park

What Is The Best Way To Repair Rotted Wood?

Remove the decaying region from the original wood board or joists to repair rotten wood. Fill the surrounding area with soft wood polyester or a wood patch using a plastic putty knife. Allow it to cure and solidify to ensure that the material remains strong. We recommend contacting a local Orland Park professional if you simply lack the dexterity required for wood rot repair because any mistakes with the fix will be obvious.

How Do You Know If Wood Rot Is Active?

A cotton-like texture or a silky-gray growth on the surface of the wood indicates the presence of fungus. The rotting region will have spores of various colors, such as yellow, purple, or white, indicating the presence of mold and mildew.

Does Rotted Wood Continue to rot?

Yes, most wood rot is irreversible and must be removed and replaced as soon as possible because the wood will continue to rot. Wet rot, for example, requires much more moisture to spread, whereas dry rot can spread even in damp or moist conditions.

Crumbling Wood, No More! Call Us Today To Get Rid Of Rot!

The longer you wait to address wood rot, the worse it will get, and the repair or replacement will be more expensive. To be proactive about maintaining the interior and exterior of your property, ask one of our knowledgeable handyman team members to inspect it during one of our no-obligation consultation sessions.

Our specialist completes the task correctly the first time to prevent further deterioration. If it reappears, we will fix it again without charging you any additional fees.

Book us online to request a service for patio and deck services in Orland Park.

Suggested Reading

help icon
Let us help with your Wood Rot Repair Service in Orland Park & Oak Lawn, IL
help icon
Let us help with your Wood Rot Repair Service in Orland Park & Oak Lawn, IL