Woodwork Repair/Replacement
A very important part of the panting process! And because of this, we offer an in-house woodworking team to complete the work before painting begins. It’s important to know that paint and caulk is not formulated to stop continued deterioration of wood. We give our paint jobs the best possible chance to perform at a high level with a solid substrate.
When to Replace Boards:
1. Boards need to be replaced when the crack in the board is too long or too thick
2. If the color of the wood underneath the paint is visible and is dark brown or black in appearance then this usually is a sign that the material is damaged and rotten.
3. If the wood or trim is spongy and soft to the touch then its needs to be replaced
4. When chunks or pieces of the material are missing
5. If the surface siding or trim is peeling away from the surface then the material should be replaced.
Causes of wood failure in exterior trim are caused primarily wood or composite products deteriorate due to moisture, this accounts for about 90% of the damages we run into.
This can happen for a numbers of reasons including:
1. The age of the wood itself
2. Failure of or incomplete caulking
3. Not keeping up with the maintenance on the home, ie painting and repairing caulk
4. Moisture seeping in from old windows or doors
5. Snow being allowed to build up on the sides of homes or on rooflines.
6. Sprinkler heads hitting the sides of the homes and constantly deluging the home with water.
7. Plants growing onto/into the exterior trim and allowing water to enter.
8. Poorly functioning, clogged, or damaged gutters
9. Improperly sealed/flashed roofs or windows and doors
*In Colorado we typically see most water damage on the north sides of the home or on severely shaded aspects on roof lines and walls.
*Deteriorated wood must be replaced for the Vivax Pro Painting all-inclusive warranty to be valid for that actual spot on the house
Terminology/Dimensions:
Fascia: Trim that the Gutters are installed against and that goes along the roofline of a home
Soffit: Runs horizontally under the eaves and rooflines of homes. Also can be under overhangs on decks, entries, etc.
Thresholds: The bases of door frames (we do not replace these)
Window or Door Jambs: Runs horizontally and vertically to make up the structure of windows and doors. (We do not replace these)
Corbels: Trim that extends out from the walls and supports the fascia or other overhangs
Post/Column: Rectangular/square boards that support deck or entry roofs (traditionally 4×4 or 6×6.) This can be a solid piece of wood or framed with 2X material and wrapped with trim.
Belly Band: Trim that runs horizontally on the sides of homes to break up large areas of siding
Ice Dam: A type of trim that is usually installed above belly bands to prevent water from standing on top of trim.
Lattice: Thin slats of wood that make up a grid pattern (traditionally running at an angle) Found under decks and porches
Lap Siding: Siding that overlaps lower boards
Reveal: Amount of lap siding that is showing after applied to house.
Sheet Siding: Large sheets of siding usually in 4×8 or 4×9 sheets can be smooth, or textured and have grooves running 8 or 12 inches apart along the length of the sheet
Panel Siding: Siding that may look a lot like lap siding but is actually 2-4 courses in one panel
Garage Flashing: Vinyl or wood trim that goes along the inside of garage door jambs and has a piece of flat rubber to seal the door when closed
Brick Molding: Trim that can sometimes be found around windows and doors and garage doors. Usually 1 ¾” deep by 2 ¼” wide
Hardi Board: Has many different brands but is a cement based trim or siding that resists water damage better than other types of materials
Pro Trim: Has many different brands and is essentially a fiber based board that is composite
Cedar/Redwood: Real wood that has natural water resistant qualities in the wood
Hand rail: Boards that make up the “fence” going around decks and entries
Spindles: Usually a 2×2 board that goes vertically and provides the fence look on handrails
Flashing: Thin metal that is usually installed over windows, doors, and belly band to prevent moisture from getting behind trim
Miter Cuts: Cuts that are made at an angle so the end of the board isn’t seen
Butt Cuts: Cuts that are easiest to make but the end of the boards are usually visible
Bead Board: A type of soffit with rounded grooves running down the board
T-111: A type of sheet siding that is usually real wood with square grooves running anywhere from 4-12” apart
Batts: Traditionally 1×2 trim boards that run vertically over smooth or textured sheet siding
Radius Windows/Doors: Rounded or “half moon” trim above windows or doors
House Wrap: Name brand is Tyvek. House wrap comes in rolls and is made up of re-enforced nylon. It provides a water resistant barrier underneath exterior trim and siding and allows the home to breath by pulling moisture away from the walls.
