Wood is a living material that requires special attention throughout the life of the house.
Even when a wooden house is properly maintained, it is common to notice more pronounced aging on the South and Southwest facades.
Indeed, these facades are the most exposed to the elements: rain, sun, and significant UV radiation coming from the West.
For houses located in coastal areas, sea spray must also be added, which puts wood stains to an even tougher test.
It is therefore common to see more advanced deterioration on a Southwest facade while the other sides of the house are still in good condition.
The most sensitive areas include the ends of logs, intersections at the corners, joints, or places where water can infiltrate, such as natural cracks present in the logs or timbers.
When the deterioration remains localized, it is generally not necessary to replace the entire log. It is possible to remove the rotten wood and rebuild the missing part with M-Balm and E-Wood.
In this article, we will look at how to repair an area of rotten wood on a solid wood house using M-Balm and E-Wood, step by step.
1. Check log moisture and identify rotten wood
Before starting the repair, you must determine how far the wood has deteriorated.
The first check can be carried out with a wood moisture meter.
On a solid wood log exposed to the outdoors, the moisture content should be a maximum of 16 to 18%. A higher rate indicates a problem.
However, taking a moisture reading is not enough on its own to determine the state of the wood.
A mechanical check helps to complete the diagnosis.
Indeed, rotten wood can also be dry.
A wood chisel, a spatula, or a screwdriver can be used to probe the suspicious area.
If the tool sinks easily into the wood without meeting resistance comparable to that of healthy wood, this confirms the presence of rotten wood.
The check should be continued around the suspicious area to determine the limits of the wood to be removed.
Before any repair, it is also important to find the cause of the degradation: infiltration, runoff, lack of sealing, high exposure to bad weather, or a finish that no longer provides sufficient protective function.
Identification of a rotten wood area on a solid wood house using a wood chisel.
2. Completely remove the rotten wood
The part of the wood that has lost its strength must be removed until healthy wood is reached.
For a localized repair, a wood chisel and mallet allow you to gradually remove the degraded wood. The chisel allows you to work with precision and preserve as much healthy wood as possible around the area.
You must continue to remove wood until the substrate has sufficient strength and no longer contains brittle or spongy material.
This step is essential before proceeding with the repairs: M-Balm and E-Wood should not be used to cover wood that is still rotten.
Once the rotten wood has been removed, the area must be cleared of dust and small pieces of wood before applying the M-Balm.
The rotten wood has been removed with a wood chisel and mallet until reaching sufficiently healthy wood.
3. Consolidate the wood with M-Balm
After removing the rotten wood, the first step of the repair consists of consolidating the remaining area with M-Balm.
M-Balm is a two-component epoxy resin intended for the repair and consolidation of wood.
Before handling the product, wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
Prepare the mixture in a plastic squeeze bottle: 2 volumes of component A to 1 volume of component B.
It is better to prepare only the amount necessary for the intervention.
Once the two components are mixed, the product begins to harden after approximately 20 minutes. You must therefore prepare a quantity adapted to the surface to be treated and work without delay.
For the application of M-Balm, use an inexpensive brush; this will need to be discarded after the M-Balm has hardened.
Apply the M-Balm generously to the bottom of the cavity. It is not necessary to wait for the M-Balm to dry completely to move on to step 4.
Preparation of the M-Balm mixture
4. Reconstitute the missing wood with E-Wood
After applying M-Balm, the missing part can be reconstituted with E-Wood.
When the volume to be filled is large, it is better to fill part of it with healthy wood, cut to the necessary dimensions and fixed in the repair area with stainless steel screws.
This method allows you to reduce the volume of E-Wood required and to reconstitute part of the volume with healthy wood.
To handle E-Wood, wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
The mixture is made with two balls of equivalent size, one of each component A and B. Both parts are then kneaded until a homogeneous mixture and color are obtained.
The E-Wood is then introduced into the area to be repaired.
It is better to fill slightly beyond the level of the existing wood.
After complete hardening, this excess can be removed by sanding.
For this repair, sanding can be carried out with 100-120 grit abrasive paper in order to obtain a regular surface and bring the repair level with the surrounding wood.
Repair of a rotten wood area with E-Wood (before sanding)
And after the wood repair?
Once the areas are repaired and the logs sanded, several steps are necessary to ensure the protection and waterproofing of your wooden house.
Depending on the condition of the logs and the needs of the house, the next steps may include:
- filling cracks with Check Mate 2;
- perfecting the seal between the logs with Perma-Chink or Energy Seal;
- protecting the walls with Lifeline Ultra-7 wood stain;
- protecting the ends of the logs or timbers with Log End Seal;
- applying the protective topcoat with Lifeline Advance.
These various steps and Perma-Chink finishing products will soon be the subject of dedicated articles on this blog to assist you in the maintenance and renovation of your solid wood house.
Frequently asked question: Can you repair rotten wood on a wooden house yourself?
When rotten wood is localized on a small surface of a solid wall, a repair of this type can be carried out by yourself, according to the instructions above.
On the other hand, if the rotten wood is located on a load-bearing element, i.e., a part that contributes to the structure of the house, it is imperative to call a carpenter.
They will be able to assess the situation, secure the structure before any intervention, in particular by setting up metal construction props, and perform the repairs within the framework of their professional guarantees.
For the renovation of your solid wood house, I can assist you with the diagnosis of the degraded area, and the choice, supply, and implementation of the appropriate Perma-Chink repair products.
