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
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.