Wood repair in Guilford Ct
It’s important to inspect the exterior trim
On your home each year. Rotted and loose
trim can cause extensive damage by allowing
Moisture to get in and rot to spread. The good
News is that you can repair your trim without
the help of a professional if you follow a few
Simple tips:
Where to look: windows, doors and any other
Trim. Check for cracks, rotting wood, loose
trim boards and holes. Next, determine
if a small portion the the trim can be
replaced or if you need to replace the entire
board.
What to do next: For wood repair,
If the wood isn’t badly
damaged, or not rotting it’s easy to fix.
If you see loose wood, just hammer fresh
nails into the trim board to firmly secure.
Cracks – For wood repair, remove any old caulk in the cracks,
any dirt or debris.
Then apply fresh silicone caulk in the cracks.
Note: Make sure the temp outside is between
50-90 degrees before you start to get the best
performance out of your caulk.
Patched Cracks– For wood repair, exterior wood filler for
Patched cracks in the trim. First, sand the
area with coarse sandpaper to ensure a
good bond. After this, apply wood filler with
a putty knife. After it dries, sand it flush with
medium to fine grit sandpaper.
Replacing rotted and damaged trim: Carefully
Remove the rotted wood with a pry bar.
measure what you removed.
(when you replace this wood, add a few inches to allow
For trimming it and any mistakes in measuring).
You can have the lumber store cut your wood, but it’s
a good idea to have a miter saw to trim it if need be
at home.
Safety Note: Be sure to read manufacture’s instructions
Carefully when operating power tools! Do not wear
Loose clothing or jewelry.
Installing new trim: Use nails and a hammer to attach
the new trim wood. Use a nail set and hammer to get
the nails below the surface of new wood. Cover nail holes
with putty and when it’s dry sand the putty flush with the wood.
Painting the new wood
Use a drop cloth to protect the ground and bushes where
you are painting. You can also use blue tape to tape off
around the exterior of the wood you are painting to protect
the siding. Make sure to use a high quality enamel or varnish
brush. Use a high quality paint or stain, it truly makes all the
difference. Benjamin Moore offers a high quality paint and stain
line. Apply one coat of primer followed by one or two finish
Coats of paint.
Call us for a free professional evaluation! Coastline Painters LLC (203) 458-2073