If you have older wooden windows in your home, it’s not uncommon for them to become rotted, especially if you live in a humid environment. And, once rot begins in your window, it can start to spread throughout the rest of your window fast, possibly enveloping large sections until your frame starts crumbling away. Luckily, if you discover the rot before it gets too bad, you can replace the rotted wood and save your entire window frame. If you want to replace the rotted wood in your window frame, follow these steps:
Assess the Extent of the Damage
While it can sometimes be easy to spot parts of a window frame that are rotted because they are usually cracked or starting to crumble, not all rotted wood is visible. Oftentimes, rotted wood may be hiding underneath the surface that still looks to be in good condition. To make sure that you know where every rotted area is, you’ll need to do a quick and simple inspection of the window frame. Take a screwdriver and apply pressure on the frame every 2-3 inches. If the wood is soft and starts to give when you apply pressure to it, that area is likely rotted.
Remove the Rotted Wood
Once you’ve discovered all of the parts of the window frame that have rotted, it’s time to remove the wood. Take a screwdriver or knife, and start scraping out all of the rotted wood that you can. Make sure to dig deep and remove as much crumbling wood as possible. Keep in mind that if you leave any rotted wood in the frame, it can spread to other parts, so it’s important to take your time and remove as much as you can.
Mix an Epoxy and Apply it to the Damaged Areas
Once you’ve removed all of the rotted wood form your window frame, you’ll need to mix together an epoxy wood filler according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Take that wood filler and slather it onto all of the spots where the rotted wood was. Make sure that you use enough, and don’t worry about applying too much because you can always sand away the excess later. Once you’ve applied the epoxy, take a putty knife and rub it over the epoxy similar to spreading butter on bread to help give the epoxy a smooth finish. Let the epoxy sit for three to four hours until it completely dries.
Sand and Paint the Window Frame
After the epoxy has dried, run sandpaper over the spots where the epoxy was added until the surface is smooth and level with the rest of the frame. Finally, it’s time to paint your window frame. Apply 2-3 coats of exterior paint on the window, wait for the recommended time between coats. Let the paint dry and your all set. Your window frame should look like new and be rot free.
Turn to Expo Home Improvement for Beautiful Vinyl Replacement Windows That Will Never Rot
If you’re tired of wooden windows that rot and need to be replaced all too frequently, consider turning to Expo Home Improvement to have beautiful new vinyl windows installed in your home. Our windows are made from a durable vinyl material that is resistant to warping and rotting, extremely energy efficient, and available in a number of different styles, making them the perfect option to replace your wooden windows.
For more information about the replacement windows we have available for homeowners throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Central Texas areas, contact Expo Home Improvement today.
