Exterior carpentry and wood rot repair
We replace rotted and damaged exterior wood around the home, rebuild outdoor steps and handrails, and build small outdoor pieces: privacy screens, planters, enclosures and similar woodwork.
Illustrative photoOutdoor woodwork beyond fences and decks
Exterior wood rots where water collects: the bottom of door trim, the ends of fascia boards, corner boards near the ground. Replacing the rotted piece is only part of the job. We look for where the water is coming from and tell you.
Small jobs are welcome: one or two boards, a single step, or a small build that is too small for a renovation contractor.
Common jobs
- Rotted door or window trim
- Soft or broken fascia boards
- Rotted corner boards and wood near ground level
- Loose or rotted wooden steps and handrails
- Worn arbors, pergolas or garden structures
- Privacy screens, enclosures and planters
Wood rot repair: trim and fascia
Door and window trim
Rotted casing and trim replaced and sealed, ready for paint.
Fascia boards
Damaged sections of fascia replaced where they can be reached safely from a ladder.
Corner and skirt boards
Boards near the ground, where splash-back and soil keep them wet, cut back to sound wood and replaced.
Profile matching
Trim matched in profile as closely as stock allows. Unusual profiles can sometimes be made from standard lumber.
Outdoor steps, porches and handrails
Wooden steps to a front door or down to the garden take the same weather as a deck, with less airflow underneath. Treads soften, stringers rot where they meet the ground, and handrails loosen at the posts.
We repair or rebuild exterior wood steps, small porch landings and handrails. Stairs that are part of a deck are covered under deck repair. A handrail on stairs is safety equipment, so it is anchored to the structure, not just to the treads.
Small outdoor builds
Built on site to fit the space, from the same materials and details as our fences and decks.
Privacy screens
Freestanding or post-mounted wood screens around a patio, hot tub or neighbour's window.
Bin and equipment enclosures
Garbage, recycling and pool or heat-pump equipment hidden behind a screen with a door or gate.
Planters and raised beds
Cedar planter boxes and raised garden beds built to the size of the space.
Trellises and arbors
For climbing plants or to mark a garden entrance.
Benches and seating
Simple built-in or freestanding outdoor benches.
Garden structure repairs
Rotted posts, beams and slats on existing pergolas, arbors and gazebos replaced.
Finding where the water comes from
- Overflowing or leaking gutters and downspouts that soak fascia and trim
- Missing or failed flashing above doors and windows
- Sprinklers, soil or mulch against the bottom of the wood
- Unpainted cut ends that draw water into the board
We tell you what we see. Gutters, roofing and flashing are other trades.
Patch or replace the board?
- Partial repair works when rot is confined to the end of a board: the bad part is cut out and a new piece joined in.
- Full replacement is better when rot runs along the board, or the board is short enough that a splice saves nothing.
Materials
- Bare wood is primed on all sides, including cut ends, so it does not draw water back in.
- Fasteners are exterior-rated, and stainless where they go into cedar.
What affects the price
We do not publish fixed prices because every job differs. These are the main factors:
- How much wood is rotted once it is opened up
- Height and access
- Matching a trim profile
- Whether priming or painting is included
- Size and material of a new build
Limits
- Rot behind siding or under windows can point to a building-envelope problem. We replace the wood we can reach and refer the envelope work to the right trade.
- Strata exteriors are usually common property and need strata approval.
- We do not take on interior renovation, drywall or cabinet work.
How the job works
Submit a quote request
Describe the damaged wood and where it is on the house.
Find the cause
Gutters, flashing, sprinklers and soil contact are the usual sources.
Written estimate
States what is replaced and what is excluded, such as painting or work by other trades.
Replace and seal
Rotted material is cut back to sound wood, replaced and sealed.
Rot repair & outdoor carpentry questions
Can you replace just the rotted part of a trim board?
Often, yes. If the rot is limited to one end, it is cut back to sound wood and a new piece is joined on. If the rot runs along the board, replacing the whole board is the better repair.
What causes exterior wood to rot?
Water that stays in the wood. Fixing the source matters as much as replacing the wood, otherwise the new board rots in the same place.
Do you take on small jobs?
Yes. One rotted board, a single step or a small build are all reasonable requests. Send photos and we will tell you if it is a fit.
Do you build pergolas or sheds?
We repair existing pergolas and garden structures. Ask about new pergolas and sheds when you get in touch; they are not yet standard services.
Related services
Where we offer this
Rot repair & outdoor carpentry is available across our Metro Vancouver service area, including Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, Vancouver, Port Moody, Delta, Richmond, Langley and North Vancouver.
Get a free estimate for rot repair & outdoor carpentry
New build or repair, send a short description and a few photos. We reply with next steps and, where photos are enough, a realistic price range.