If your home has some trim pieces that seem to have a little bit of rot or mold, you might be thinking that painting over them is a quick and easy solution. It may seem obvious that rotted wood could be a bad thing for your home. If you live in an area with four seasons–many of them heavy with rain or snow–rotted wood can be a common occurrence as your house ages. Having the thought of repainting it by professional painters in Brunswick GA is still not an assurance that it’ll give out the best result.
We’ve seen many times where homeowners ignore this problem. Sometimes they feel like it’s a small issue or localized to one space, so they think it’s low on the priority list to repair.
Unfortunately, this misconception could not be further from the truth. Wet rot and dry rot can not only spread and grow from one small area, but they can also potentially damage the structure of your home.
But why should you replace rotted wood before painting? The following information will fill you in on why this step shouldn’t be ignored during a professional paint job.
Your Paint Will Crack and Create a Bubble
Your home’s exterior and interior are both designed to keep the elements out, and paint is designed to help with that protection, especially on the exterior. But if you have wood with wet rot, that moisture will compromise your paint job. all those hours of hard work and money spent will be for nothing
Ensure a Better Paint Job
Painting over rotten, wet wood is usually a waste of time, money, and hard work. If homeowners do not replace it, the paint won’t adhere well to the wet and damaged wood surface. It is tough to achieve a flawless paint finish on damaged wooden surfaces, and the paint eventually cracks, bubbles, and fades. Moisture in the wood may also indicate a leak that requires fixing to prevent further wood rot down the line.
Protection from Termites
Termites cause damage to wood and impact the structural integrity of a building. Painting does nothing to treat a termite infestation. These pests feed on wood, and if not treated, can infest other areas, significantly reducing the wood’s strength and structural integrity. The best way to deal with termites is to replace the rotten wood before painting.
You’ll Get Mold Recurrence
Mold and fungus grow on both wet rot and dry rot. If you don’t repair and replace this damaged wood, mold and fungus will continue to grow in and under (and potentially through) your paint. Mold and fungus in your walls and paint is incredibly dangerous for your health, especially if you have people with existing allergies living in your home.
Your Paint Will Discolor
We know you loved that perfect silvery grey…except it was painted over an area with rotted wood and now it looks more like a dull brown! You can try repainting, but the damaged wood will continue to “leak” out its rot into your paint color.
You’ll Have to Use More Paint
Rotted wood tends to soak up the liquid. It will do that to your paint, requiring more and more coats (which will then crack and bubble).
You Could Be Masking a Deeper Issue
The problem may be a deeper issue than simply rotted wood. That rotted area could be a sign of a more serious compromise to your home. Professional painters will dig in and replace the area completely which could help them discover small problems long before they become big ones.
Some find painting rotten wood a quick and easy fix. However, it only hides the rot and makes the wood visually appealing. It ignores the underlying causes that can lead to severe issues down the line. Painting does not stop wood deterioration; it simply delays the process of the wood falling apart.