Replies

1. 
   jcallahan | Apr 20, 1999 08:57pm | #1

   *
   This is just a guess, but I suspect water runoff from the roof is splashing back on your trim. I seen more than a few cases of this. Proper design (broad overhangs) can reduce or eliminate it. After the fact, gutters can help. When you replace the wood, back prime everything, especially the endgrain ......it will wick up moisture like crazy if you don't. Next time you get a heavy rain, check it out and see what the runoff is doing. Good Luck!

2. 
   G.LaLonde | Apr 20, 1999 09:51pm | #2

   *
   James, I have seen a lot of this problem and I have one door on my own house that experienced the same thing. This was in an area where roof runoff splashes the door (as jcallahan mentioned). This particular door is surrounded by brick and I didn't want to disturb it if possible, so I cut the bottom foot off of the jambs and made new pieces out of Trex. You can buy door jambs now where the bottom foot is made out of material similar to Trex and apparently the bigger door companies are about to offer this as an option when ordering your new doors. I used every method possible to paint and seal this door jamb properly, but it still couldn't hold up to the water. I couldn't do much about the water spashing in this situation, but that is certainly the main problem causing the deterioration.

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 20, 1999 09:51pm | #3

   *
   Virtually all my exterior door jambs and stops and the brick mould trim around the doors are rotten where they meet the sills. I don't see evidence of insect infestation and have assumed the culprit is water that is somehow wicked up. The wood was primed, painted and caulked and the sills appear to be properly sloped yet I have severe damage at the bottom 3 to 4 inches. In some case the wood is completely rotted away under the paint. What is the proper construction technique to prevent recurrence?