I have been asked to repair the front entry of a Moorehead colonial. The entry has concrete/brick steps leading up to it. At the bottom of the fluted columns and pilasters, rot has taken over. I removed the rotten wood including the kickplate that goes under the threshold.
Between the steps and the house is another board that runs horizontal and is even with the top of the steps( it appears to be a spacer between steps and ledger board). This board was rotten and the rot migrated into the ledger board.
I now have a space behind the steps about 6″ deep and the width of the steps (7 ft). I cleaned out the rotten wood.
I need suggestions on how to fix the rot that has migrated into the ledger board without removing the steps or removing the whole entryway which are not options.
Replies
Abatron makes an epoxy putty compound specifically formulated for this sort of thing. FHB even ran an article on how to use this type of product a number of years ago.
http://www.abatron.com
http://www.taunton.com/store/shoppingcart/online_selection_validation.asp?ID=021156077&TYPE=A
I have also used quicksetting hydraulic patching cement (PolyPlug) when faced with a large volume that had to be filled (for me, the import duties and shipping on the Abatron product render it too expensive except for filling small rot holes in millwork that have to be re-detailed afterwards, something difficult to do with portland cement products).
Whatever you use, make sure you get all the rot out, and then poison the wood with end-cut preservative or something similar to kill any remaining spores or you will simply have new rot continue underneath the patch. One of the benefits of using cement is that the alkalies in it tend to kill most rot spores very effectively....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Paul,
You need to correct the moisture problem that caused the rot. Rot will not occur if the moisture content is below 20% or so. If the strength of the ledger is not compromised you don't need to worry about getting all the "rot" out. Fungal spores are everywhere.
For more read here.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch13.pdf
KK