Is It Wise To Paint Over Rotted Wood?

Even though it's not impossible to paint over rotten wood in your home, the procedure is complex and we suggest hiring a professional house painter for the same. This is because – before you decide to paint any rotten wood – the wood must be treated generously with a wood hardener. 

The hardener will get absorbed into the wood and will provide a strong base for the paint to stick. Painting with any wood hardener will simply turn out to be ineffective and over time the paint will peel off. 

Method To Paint A Rotten Wood

In case you're planning to go the DIY route of painting rotten wood, then we suggest following the below-mentioned guide, courtesy of professional exterior house painters in Auckland. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Vacuum cleaner

• Wood hardener

• Flathead screwdriver

• Wood filler

• Soft-bristle brush

• Wood filler hardener

• Wood finish paint

• Putty knife

• 100-grit sandpaper

• 120-grit sandpaper

• Paintbrush

• Mini roller

• Wood primer

Procedure To Follow

• Firstly, you have to eliminate all the rotten and crumbling wood before you finally reach a reasonably solid wood. Now, use your screwdriver and dig through the rotted wood. You shouldn't be afraid to make a bigger hole so that you can easily vacuum the debris present on the inside. 

• Take the can of wood hardener and then shake it. Open its lid and dip the soft-bristle brush into the same. Using the brush, apply the wood hardener onto the rotted wood. Try to apply multiple coats, layer upon layer, until you obtain a shiny surface. Then let it dry for at least four hours. 

• After that, you have to open both the cans of the wood filler and wood filler hardener. Pour the hardener into the can of the wood filler and mix it well, using the putty knife. 

• Now it’s time to fill the hole that you made (using the screwdriver) using the aforementioned wood filler mixture. Once done, allow the wood filler to sit for at least 24 hours. 

• Now it's time to sand the area around the hole so that you can obtain a smooth surface. The hole should easily blend properly with the surroundings. 

• Finally, it's time to apply the wood primer and wait for another 24 hours. Once the primer has dried, then start applying the wood paint. At least apply two coats, 24 hours apart from one another. 

Additional Pro Tip

Painting over rotten wood should only be done if the rot turns out to be minimal. If the rot is significant, then the rotted areas must be replaced before painting. Some of the common places where rotten wood should be repaired and repainted are wood sidings and exterior trim work.