Wood Rotting Around Attic Vent

Prime spots in the attic for wood rot are on the underside of the roof decking in the joints where the wood members connect at the peak of the roof and at the edges of.

Wood rotting around attic vent.

To gauge how bad the problem is go around the entire window frame applying pressure to the wood every 2 3 inches 5 1 7 6 cm with your fingertip or a small tool like an awl or screwdriver. As wood rots it becomes punky which means it takes on a soft spongy texture. Also if you find a surface with peeling paint that feels damp you may have just uncovered a water leak behind that spot. In extreme cases rotten wood may even disintegrate as you touch it.

Investigate further and fix any leaks you find. Avoiding wood rot wood rot isn t just a roofing problem it can happen all over your house. Wood should never be soft. However we often see the soffit eave vents blocked with insulation thereby destroying the whole passive ventilation system.

And when that system is destroyed warm and humid air in the attic will stagnate and often condense along the cold wood sheathing in the winter causing wet wood and subsequent mold growth throughout much of the attic. As you poke around keep your eyes peeled for discoloration which is a sign of fungi and rot.