Siding / trim

Siding and trim are susceptible to water damage. Once an area starts to let rainwater leak in, the wood will rot after enough years have passed, which is why keeping the cracks caulked and the house painted is so important. It is easier to fix the problem now than to wait until more of the house rots away.

 

Water had leaked between the siding and trim on the chimney above, and I had to remove all the siding and the front trim. You can see some of the black tar paper that I installed on the corners of the chimney to prevent any future water leaks from destroying the framing. Next, I installed new trim and siding on the chimney. With a fresh coat of paint, it blended in completely with the rest of the siding.

 

Little nail holes like this cause siding to disintegrate.

 

If water is allowed to seep in, it will keep destroying your door jamb, until it is stopped. You can use a sharp knife to test for rotten wood; if the blade can be easily pushed in, the wood is rotten.

 

The sun can bake the paint off wood trim. This wood is not at all rotten, but it is completely exposed to the elements now.