Wood by its nature is porous and tends to absorb water when there is significant contact time between the two. This is especially problematic for untreated wood, or wood with damage to its finish \u2013 which will allow water to enter undeterred. At this point, you’ll need to assess the extent of the damage, and decide whether to fix the water damaged wood \u2013 or simply replace it.<\/p>\n
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In most cases, the extent of water damage to wood will depend on the length of time the wood has been in contact with water. Long contact periods can cause wood to swell, deteriorate, and sometimes develop mildew or mold.<\/p>\n
Even untreated wood can handle periodic contact with water provided it has sufficient opportunity to dry out. Generally, wood that sustains significant water damage tends to be wood that sits in stagnant water for long periods \u2013 like the bottoms of fence posts<\/a> or the corners of exterior wood trim<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s for these reasons that wood \u2013 especially wood used in exterior applications \u2013 is treated or coated with primer\/paint, lacquer, or stain. These substances create a water-resistant layer over the wood\u2019s surface, preventing water from penetrating deeply into its pores.<\/p>\n Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of how to fix water damaged wood.<\/p>\n Jump To:<\/p>\n