Use epoxy wood filler to keep rotted wood on window frames at bay.
Dealing with rotted wood is something most homeowners must face at one time or another. Water is wood's biggest enemy, and window frames seem to be particularly susceptible to wood rot. There is an easy way to repair your rotted wood window frames permanently, allowing you to restore your pride of home ownership as well as your home's exterior beauty. Epoxy is the best choice when it comes to repairing rotted wood, and it's pretty simple to use. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clean and prep the area you're repairing. Use a chisel and hammer to chip away as much rotted wood as you can (rotted wood will be soft and moist). Wear safety glasses as you are gouging out the rotted wood. Make sure the remaining area (the area you're going to repair) is dry before you apply the epoxy.
2. Use a power drill to drill in 1/4-inch deep holes
Drill ¼-inch holes around the area you're repairing. The drill holes should be about ½-inch apart. Drill deep, but don't drill all the way through the wood. These holes will let moisture escape.
3. Tent the area you've just cleaned and prepped with loose-fitting plastic. This protects the area of repair from moisture. Let the area dry about a week.
4. Brush on wood consolidant. You don't have to let it dry before continuing the repair; you can begin application as soon as you've mixed the epoxy.
5. Mix equal parts of parts A and B of the epoxy wood filler by dipping into each part with a stir stick and ladling golf ball-sized portions onto a piece of scrap board. Stir the two parts with a putty knife for about 3 minutes.
6. Spread a layer of the mixed epoxy into the area of repair with the putty knife. Work it in with your fingers (wear rubber gloves). Put enough epoxy in so you can shape it to match the rest of the frame. You may need to apply several layers of epoxy to fill the space. Let dry (drying time will range from 3 to 24 hours, depending on the temperature).
7. Shape the epoxy with a file and 80-grit sandpaper to match the existing window frame once the epoxy has hardened. To see if the epoxy has hardened, try pushing your fingernail into the epoxy. If it doesn't leave an imprint, the epoxy is hard.
8. Rough up the surface of the epoxy with 120-grit sandpaper, tape off the glass around the window frame and then paint. You may want to repaint the entire window frame to make sure the painted surface is seamless.
Tags: rotted wood, window frames, area repair, area repairing, epoxy hardened
