KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Check low ends of fascia, door trim and anywhere water sits.
- Painting over rot only hides it for a short while.
- Fix the water path as well as the wood.
Every coastal wood building has some rot. It tends to be small when found early, and very expensive when found after a repaint has sealed it in.
Where to look
- The ends of fascia boards, especially at gutters and corners.
- The bottom of door and garage trim.
- Under windowsills.
- Where beams and posts meet other surfaces.
- Deck and balcony edges, and stair stringers.
- North walls under trees.
How to test it
Press a small screwdriver or awl into the wood. Sound wood resists. Rotted wood gives way or crumbles. Dark stains, bubbling paint and soft spots are all reasons to test.
Replace, then paint
Replace rotted boards before any coating goes on, and prime all sides, including the cut ends. Also find out why it rotted: a missing kick-out flashing or a failed bead of caulking will destroy the new board too.
Budgeting
Hidden damage cannot be priced exactly until it is uncovered. A unit price and a realistic contingency let council present an honest budget to owners, which is what happened at Tudor Grove before their project.
This guide is general information for strata councils and property managers in British Columbia, not legal advice. Check your registered bylaws and the current Strata Property Act, or ask your property manager or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.
