I have spent my Sunday repairing a rotten step in my home. Here is what you do:

1. Unscrew the rotten board. Got stuck.
2. Search the Internet to find out how to remove stuck screws from rotten deck. Learn all about what the origin contractor has done wrong.
3. Using a variety of ways, including just pull the board with the screw still in it since it is rotten anyway, to remove the board.
4. Check for dry rot damages. Found out it is worst than you thought.
5. Remove rotten wood with putty knife. Apply wood filler.
6. While waiting for the wood filter to dry, cut the replacement board.

So I am about three quarter there. I still have to buy more chemical tomorrow to seal the wood. Let's hope the replaced board can last a while. By the way I learned a lot from the Ron Hazelton's online video How to Repair Dry Rot in Wood.

2012.06.24 comments