Rot I repair
- Lower sections of door jambs and exterior casings spliced with new wood
- Window sills and aprons rebuilt with epoxy or replaced
- Wood thresholds and sill nosings replaced
- Rotted gate rails, pickets and small trim boards swapped
- Old wood windows’ bottom rails consolidated and filled
- Every repair primed, caulked and painted
Old wood in San Gabriel homes
San Gabriel’s Citywide Historic Resources Survey documents a lot of early twentieth-century houses, and the Housing Element preliminary report puts 52.3 percent of homes at more than 60 years old. Old-growth wood in those houses is dense and worth saving, so I repair it in place when I can rather than replacing whole frames.
Rot almost always follows water: a sprinkler hitting the same corner, a door with no drip edge, a sill whose paint cracked years ago. Along with the repair, I point out where the water is coming from so the fix lasts.
How the repair goes
Find the edges
I probe around the soft spot to see how far the rot has spread.
Cut back to sound wood
All the soft fibers come out, down to wood that’s firm and dry.
Rebuild or splice
Shallow damage gets consolidant and epoxy filler; deep damage gets a new piece shaped to match.
Protect it
Primer, caulk and paint go on, and I note any water source that needs attention.
When to call someone else
Rot in posts or beams that carry load, in floor framing, or with signs of termites goes to a carpenter or pest inspector. Fascia and roof-edge boards are outside my work.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about weatherstripping and door sweeps, fence and gate repair or sticking door repair.
What to text
A close photo of the soft spot with a screwdriver in it, a wider photo of the door or window, and whether water hits that area.
Wood rot questions from San Gabriel
Can a rotted door jamb be fixed without replacing the door?
Yes. The rotted lower section of the jamb is cut out and a new piece spliced in; the door stays.
Is epoxy as good as new wood?
For shallow damage, a good epoxy repair is durable and paintable. Deep rot is better replaced with wood.
What causes window sills to rot?
Water sitting on a flat sill and getting into cracked paint. Keeping the paint and caulk sound prevents most of it.
How much does it cost to repair wood rot?
It depends on the size and location. Send photos for a free estimate before anything is booked.
Can you match the profile of old trim?
Often, by shaping a new piece or splicing in salvaged trim.
Do I need to treat for termites first?
If you see tunnels or droppings, yes. Get a pest inspection before the repair.
Exterior tips for San Gabriel homes
- Getting a thick-walled house ready for winter rainA fall checklist for older San Gabriel homes with thick walls and deep windows: sills, doors, drains, caulking and outdoor outlets.
- Getting new paint to stick to old glossy trimHow to tell if trim in an older San Gabriel home has oil-based paint, and how we prep it so new paint sticks instead of peeling.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our doors, cabinets and hardware group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.