First off, dry rot isn’t dry. It’s wet and nasty and destroys your home. This is far and away the most common discovery that I see on home inspections and that’s why I recommend that a homeowner takes care of it before the home even goes on the market. If the inspector doesn’t find wood rot it should be an indication of home that has been well maintained and give the buyer more peace of mind that other issues have been maintained as well.
On windows if just the sill and brick mold (the exterior trim on the window) are bad I recommend repairing it. If we find the jambs (the sides that hold the tracks) are starting to go or maybe the sashes (the moving parts of the window) it may be more economical to do a replacement window. Sometimes I suggest a full replacement unit, depending on homeowner preferences and how much longer they will be there.
Homeowners need to be very wary of the repair crew that tells them it’s time to go ahead and just do all the windows now to prevent rot later. I’ve seen cases where the owners were pressured into replacing perfectly good sills and brick molds just to “not have to worry about it later.” With some maintenance those units may have lasted for years.
In our area another very common form of rot has to do with siding. Many homes are to the point now that full replacement is a good idea. However, many homes are going to be fine for years by replacing a few panels and using a band board across the bottom. Each home needs to evaluated to see how extensive the repairs need to be. It’s your wallet so don’t let someone else spend what’s in it.
To prevent future damage to your home keep bushes trimmed so that there is at least 12” between them and the siding. This allows air to flow and dry out moisture. Additionally, anything that rubs on the siding or windows acts like sandpaper and slowly eats away at the structure. Besides, nicely trimmed landscaping creates a great first impression.
Tony Drew
HandyFolks, Inc.
www.handykc.com
913-269-7191
