Ask House Spouse · Exterior & Weatherproofing · Siding & Exterior Paint
How do I know if I have wood rot in my siding or trim?
Short answer
Take a screwdriver and press firmly (not hard) against suspect wood — mainly the bottom edge of trim, corner boards, and any spot with peeling paint. Sound wood resists; rotten wood dents or crumbles. In the PNW, rot almost always starts at horizontal surfaces or trim-to-siding joints where water sits.
The screwdriver test
This is the exact test we run on assessments. Any wood that gives under moderate pressure is compromised. It'll spread — rot is a fungus and it moves. A dented spot the size of a quarter today is a fist-sized problem in a year.
Common failure spots
Bottom of window trim, window sills, corner boards where paint has peeled, deck ledger boards, any trim below a leaking gutter, and cedar siding at the ground line (called splash rot). Also look at the fascia behind the gutter — this is the #1 hidden rot spot in the PNW.
Repair vs. replace
Rot smaller than 6 inches can be dug out and treated with epoxy consolidant (Abatron, LiquidWood) — a legitimate permanent fix. Anything larger, replace the board. Both are handyman scope; we handle both routinely.
What we see on Home Health Assessments
Roughly 71% of homes older than 8 years show one or more failed caulk joints letting water into wall assemblies.
Caught early on assessment: $220–$750 · Left until failure: $1,200–$8,500
Based on real experience across Snohomish and King County, exterior & weatherproofing issues like this are among the ones homeowners most often miss until they become expensive. Our Home Health Assessment catches them early — while they're still a maintenance item, not a repair.
How the Home Health Assessment worksServices we'd bring to this job
Where we handle this
We answer this question on real Home Health Assessments across Snohomish and King County.
Related questions
Exterior & Weatherproofing · Siding & Exterior Paint
How often should I repaint the exterior of a PNW home?
In Snohomish and King County, expect to repaint a well-prepped exterior every 8–12 years. Homes on windward exposures (south/west facing, no tree cover) hit the shorter end. The single biggest factor is the caulking and prep before paint — a cheap paint job over bad prep fails in 4 years.
Exterior & Weatherproofing · Decks & Outdoor Structures
How often should a deck be stained or sealed in the PNW?
Semi-transparent stain lasts 2–3 years on a PNW deck; solid stain lasts 4–6 years; clear sealer lasts 12–18 months. Whichever you use, plan on a full clean and re-coat schedule and stick to it — a deck that's gone gray from neglect needs more than a re-coat, it needs board replacements first.