Termites invade the wood for food and will find ways out even when you use paint. Termites: Another reason why the wood may be rotted is termites, particularly if the damage is occurring in the lower sections of your home. It could be that all of the surface wood is starting to rot or perhaps that the home itself has been compromised by moisture, mold, pests, or insects By painting over the issue, you are only masking the true cause of why the wood is rotting. Signs of Other Issues: While some cases of rotting wood are independent from the rest of the home, in most cases it is a sign that something else may be wrong. Once this happens, painting over it does not stop the deterioration. Usually, moisture combined with other elements such as mold or mildew has penetrated the surface and has invaded the interior. I’ve seen century houses getting replacement windows top to bottom and noticed the fellow who uninstalled all the old windows carefully loading them into a trailer, separating each window and frame with a packing blanket, obviously destined for reuse rather than disposal.There are a number of reasons why you should repair rotting wood, plus rotting wood may be a sign that something more substantial needs to be corrected.Ĭompromised Strength: When wood siding and trim starts to rot that means its integrity and strength has been compromised in some fashion. Replacing the old sash weights with reels that balance the windows and allow the old sash weight channels to be insulated combined with the already existing (admittedly old) aluminum storms that have protected the windows really isn’t that far off on energy efficiency a retro fitted Anderson would provide.Īlso, if the windows are solid other than rot in the sill/frame is not too extensive there are materials you can treat rotten wood with and fill missing sections that can be a lot easier than tearing out a sill and repairing it. When we first purchased our bungalow we were all hot to replace the windows and storms with energy efficient Anderson windows, but an friend who inspects houses pointed out how high quality the 90 year old windows were and how reglazing them where needed would contribute more value to the house. If they were already replaced in the past then that changes the question. If the rot is confined to the frame and the original operating windows are in decent shape (complete and functional) then I would consider keeping them. I agree w/ the poster who references painting and flashing as likely contributing factors. Not clear if the actual windows (sash) involved are themselves rotten or if it is only the sill/frame? We have two houses (93 year & 145 year old), both brick houses in the humid NE and none of the frames are rotted. The house has been standing over 100 years, it's unlikely that anything will cause it to fall down in the next 30 so long as you guys keep it maintained Heating system is in good shape hot water tank is in good shape etcīeyond that, so long as your framing doesnt feel unsturdy, you are probably good to go. The sewer system is good? Old houses often used clay pipes out to main, which may be on the verge of collapse, and are very expensive to replace No signs of water damage, fire damage mold, etc. Plumbing mostly has been renovated from what you can see, and no longer uses galvanized steel pipe for potable water your -assumed- lime mortar and fieldstone basement walls show little signs of dusting and little/no signs of settlement or severely need repointing, and -hopefully- have not been painted with drylok)Įlectrical system has been updated from the old knob and tube system? Is the structure sound? - no signs of foundation issues (i.e. That does not mean your house is a lemon, it just means its 100 years old, and materials wear out It does not mean that your renovations will not see return investment - and even if they dont, you are making the place you live more habitable, so I see it as a benefit either way. If your house is 100 years old, and has had even just cosmetic renovations, you are going to spend a lot of money retrofitting with modern updates.
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