Wood Rot Repair Before Painting
Paint will not stick to rotted wood, and painting over rot only hides a problem that keeps growing. PB Painting finds and repairs damaged wood on fascia, rafter tails, window sills, door frames and trim before we paint, so the new finish goes onto solid material and lasts.
Repairs and Painting by One Crew
Most homeowners do not want to hire a carpenter, wait for them to finish and then schedule a painter. On our exterior projects we repair localized rot as part of prep. We cut or dig out soft, decayed wood, treat the area, rebuild it with Bondo for a hard, sandable repair, or replace short sections of trim and fascia. Then we prime the repair and paint it with the rest of the house, so you never see where the damage was.
Where We Find Rot Most Often
Rot starts wherever water sits on wood. On San Diego homes that usually means fascia boards under the roof edge, rafter tails and beam ends, window sills and the bottom of window trim, door frames and thresholds, garage door trim near the ground, deck posts and pergola beams, and the bottom boards of wood siding and fences.
Our Wood Repair Services
Depending on what we find, repairs include:
- Probing trim, fascia and sills to find hidden soft spots
- Removing decayed wood back to solid material
- Rebuilding damaged areas with Bondo and shaping to match
- Replacing short sections of fascia, trim and sills
- Sealing end grain and caulking joints
- Priming every repair before painting
- Photo documentation of what was repaired
Larger structural damage, such as rotted framing or posts carrying weight, is referred to a licensed carpenter or contractor.
How We Price Wood Repair
Some rot is visible during the estimate and some only shows up once old paint is scraped. Our proposals list the repairs we can see, and we explain how any hidden damage found during prep will be handled before work starts:
- Visible repairs are listed in your written proposal
- Hidden rot is photographed and shown to you
- No extra repair work is done without your approval
- Repairs are primed and painted with the rest of the job
You always know what is being repaired and why.
Bondo Versus Replacement
For small and medium areas, a Bondo repair is strong, holds its shape and can be sanded to match the original profile. When a board is soft along much of its length, or the damage reaches the back side, replacing the section is the better long-term fix. We will show you which approach we recommend for each spot.
Stopping Rot From Coming Back
Paint is the wood’s first line of defense. After repairs, we caulk open joints, prime bare wood the same day and apply two full coats of premium exterior paint. We also point out the causes we see, such as sprinklers hitting trim, missing gutters or a leaking downspout, so you can fix the source. Learn more about our trim and fascia painting.
Signs of Wood Rot
Look for these warning signs:
- Paint that keeps peeling in the same spot
- Wood that feels soft or spongy when pressed
- Dark staining or cracks along the grain
- Crumbling edges on sills and fascia
- Gaps where trim has pulled away
Repaired areas are painted with the house and covered by our exterior workmanship warranty.
How Your Project Works
1
Inspection
During your free estimate we probe common problem areas and point out any rot we find.
2
Written Proposal
Visible repairs are listed in the scope with the rest of the painting work.
3
Removal
Decayed wood is removed back to solid, dry material.
4
Rebuild or Replace
Damaged areas are rebuilt with Bondo or replaced with new material.
5
Prime and Paint
Every repair is primed and painted with two finish coats.
6
Documentation
Repairs are photographed so you can see the work that went into your project.
Our Projects
Why Choose PB Painting?
PB Painting is a licensed and insured painting contractor based in Del Mar. Homeowners appreciate our wood repair because of:
- Repairs and painting by one crew
- Honest assessments with photos
- No surprise charges without approval
- Durable Bondo repairs or new material
- Up to a 7-year exterior warranty
Get a free estimate and wood inspection.
Jennifer Fanelli
I just completed 2 painting projects using PB Painting as my contractor. The entire process from estimating the jobs to completion has been seamless. The team who painted led by Crescensio was super professional and did a fantastic job. Definitely consider this contractor for your next painting job – you can expect excellent service and quality!
Amanda Lee
The team at all levels provided excellent service and did a great job. I am very appreciative of their hard work and efforts that really went above and beyond. Many thanks!
Robyn Drake Swanland
I think my house looks fantastic! It’s an old house (early 1940s) and they were very attentive to removing the old paint and making sure all the cracks were filled. Everyone from PB Painting was so nice and so easy to work with and kept me updated on their progress daily. The project took longer than the initial quote but isn’t that normal? I would recommend PB Painting to everyone.
H Hewitt
I have used this company twice and will use them again in the future. They are very fairly priced, work fast and want to make sure the customer is completely satisfied before the job is fully finished.
Justin B Taller
We hired PB Painting to paint our San Diego office and they delivered outstanding results. The painters were careful around our equipment, worked quickly without sacrificing quality, and the paint job looks professional. They even made helpful color suggestions. Top-notch company!
Alex Best
PB Painting did an awesome job painting my house. It was very refreshing to see their professional painters do their work. The owner came by everyday doing quality control! Who does that? I highly recommend them for whenever you want a high quality paint job done…
Nicole Minner
I found PB painting on the internet. I read the reviews and decided to contact them. Communication went very smoothly with Cameron and his team. He quickly was out to my house to give me a quote. His quote was reasonable so I hired them that day. Luis and David did amazing job painting my house. They were there on time every morning and worked really hard. I was very pleased with all their work and would recommend them to my neighbors and friends.
Yuan Mei
We hired PB Painting to repaint the exterior of our house, and we had a very positive experience overall. I was impressed by how responsive and prompt they were throughout the process. Cameron came by every day to check on the progress and make sure things were going well, which we really appreciated. We also want to thank Jose and his team for all of their hard work. They were careful, responsive, and put a lot of effort into making our house look nice. We appreciated their attention to detail and the care they took with the project.
Bryce Goldman
PB Painting just completed a full exterior paint job on our house in La Jolla and we couldn’t be happier. They owner Cameron was great and the quality of work his team provided was fantastic. They were super friendly as well. Will use them again. 5 stars.
Sabine L
Phenomenal job done by PP Painting! Really love the end result! Highly recommend this awesome company!
PB Painting did another great job for us, this time interior.
Reasonable price, quality work and they did the entire house in three days. We were blown away.
Bambini Montessori Spanish Academy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent experience with PB Painting! Reliable, professional, and very efficient.
They completed the job in just two days over the weekend, and the quality was outstanding.
Highly recommend 100%! ✨
sandra gashnikova
Very professional. Very amazing. And very fair priced. I hired them to paint a few bedrooms in a couple bathrooms in my house and they finished all within about a day and a half leaving a spotless job. I would absolutely recommend anybody looking for any work done.
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Join hundreds of San Diego homeowners who trust PB Painting with their homes
Service Areas
PB Painting provides wood rot repair and exterior painting throughout San Diego and nearby communities, including:
- Poway
- Sorrento Valley
- Torrey Pines
- Solana Beach
- Del Mar Shores
- Fairbanks Ranch
- Carmel Valley
- La Jolla
- Rancho Bernardo
- Encinitas
- Greater San Diego
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Del Mar
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you repair wood rot without painting?
Wood repair is part of our painting projects. Repairs need to be primed and painted to stay protected, so we do them together.
What is Bondo and why do you use it?
Bondo is a two-part filler that cures hard, does not shrink and can be sanded and shaped. It makes durable repairs on exterior trim, sills and fascia.
What happens if you find hidden rot?
We stop, photograph it, explain the options and get your approval before doing any extra repair work.
Can you replace fascia boards?
Yes, we replace short sections of fascia and trim. Full-length replacements and structural repairs may be referred to a carpenter.
How do I prevent rot from returning?
Keep paint in good condition, keep sprinklers off wood surfaces, and make sure gutters and downspouts direct water away from trim.
Is wood repair covered by your warranty?
Repaired areas are painted with the house and covered by our exterior workmanship warranty, with the details in your agreement.