How Do You Repair Rotted Wood Without Replacing It?
Rotted wood is almost inevitable in wood trim or any wood that’s subjected to the elements. To test wood for rot, tap it with a dull knife or a screwdriver. If the wood feels very soft or is crumbly, it’s rotted. If the area of rot is less than fifty percent of the total area of wood, you can repair it with two-part epoxy. Step 1 Use the screwdriver and chisel to remove the very crumbly wood, down to reasonably sound wood. If you poke it with a screwdriver and pieces still fall off, remove more. Step 2 Drill small holes in the excavated area to help the wood hardener penetrate. Apply a liberal amount of wood hardener onto the area using a disposable brush or spray bottle. Wipe up any spills with paper towels. (The hardener dries shiny and is hard to remove once dry, so wipe up thoroughly.) Let dry overnight. Step 3 Mix the two-part epoxy on the scrap wood according to package directions. Stuff the epoxy into the excavated area. Let dry according to package directions. Step 4 Sand the a
