How to Repair Wood Rot in an Underlayment
Repairing rotten wood underlayment involves disassembling the area, removing all the infected parts and replacing with new material. Locating the cause of the rotten wood is also necessary because you will need to take steps to prevent a re-occurence of the rot. This could involve elimination of moisture or insects. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Awl
- Screw driver
- Nails or screws
- Circular saw
- New underlayment
Instructions
-
How to Repair Wood Rot in an Underlayment
-
1
Use hammer and pry bar to remove all material covering the rotten area. Remove enough material to expose the rotten area and some area around it. This will give you a clear idea of what will need to be replaced.
-
2
Use hammer and pry bar to remove the rotten underlayment. The structure underneath usually is also rotten to some degree. Use an awl or screwdriver to poke the structure underneath to determine if any needs to be replaced.
-
-
3
Look at the area and determine the cause of the rot. Was it moisture entering nearby or insects or both? Take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening again.
-
4
Use nails, screws, circular saw and hammer to replace the old underlayment with new material. Any material that was covering the area also is probably moldy or in need of replacement. Do not cover up molded areas on the back of carpets, flooring, siding or any other areas. Hidden mold can be a future health hazard.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always use moisture resistant replacement materials when possible.
Always take safety precautions and wear proper safety equipment while using hand tools.
Avoid falling through rotten floors or exposed joist without underlayment covering.
Use proper ventilation and respiration precautions around mold infected areas.
