By mid-September, most homes around Baytown have been through a long summer of heat, afternoon storms and a few days of sideways rain. Hurricane season runs through November 30, so we're not out of it yet. But right now is a good time to walk around your house and see what the summer did.
Most of the damage we find isn't dramatic. It's a cracked board, a gap in the caulk, a soft spot on the fascia. Small stuff. The problem is water gets in through small stuff, and in our humidity, wood that stays wet starts to rot fast.
Here's what to check. It takes about 20 minutes.
Start at the roofline
Fascia boards run along the edge of your roof, and soffits are the panels underneath the overhang. They take a lot of water, and they're usually the first place we find rot.
Look for:
- Paint peeling in long strips or bubbling
- Dark stains or green growth on the boards
- Sagging, gaps, or boards pulling away from the house
- Loose or missing soffit panels
If a spot looks suspicious, press it with a screwdriver. If it sinks in, the wood is soft and needs to be replaced, not painted. Loose soffits also let in wasps, birds and rodents, and they mess with your attic ventilation. Learn more about our fascia and soffit repair.
Walk the siding
If you have Hardie plank (fiber cement) siding, look for:
- Cracked or chipped boards, especially near the ground and at corners
- Caulk that's cracked or pulled away at joints and around trim
- Nails backing out
- Boards that are loose or shifted
Fiber cement holds up well to weather, but repairs have to follow the manufacturer's specs. A bad patch job can void the warranty. See our Hardie siding repair.
If you have wood siding, look for soft spots, swelling, gaps between boards, and paint failing near the bottom rows and under windows. Those are the spots that stay wet longest. See our wood siding repair.
Check the roof from the ground
You don't need to climb up there. Stand back in the yard and look for lifted or missing shingles, exposed nails, and flashing that's bent or pulled up around vents and chimneys. A small problem caught now is a quick fix. Left alone, it turns into a ceiling stain. See our minor roof repairs.
If you see widespread damage, call your insurance company first and document everything with photos and dates.
Look inside too
Some exterior damage shows up inside first. Check for water stains on ceilings, paint bubbling near windows, and drywall that feels soft or looks warped. Those usually mean water is getting in somewhere above or behind. See our drywall repair.
Why fall is the right time to fix it
Repairs need to happen before paint, not after. Painting over rot just hides it for a year or two. Fall also brings the best painting weather we get on the Gulf Coast, so if you're planning to repaint, getting the repairs done now sets you up to paint in October or November.
Quick checklist
- Fascia: no peeling, staining, sagging or soft spots
- Soffits: all panels secure, no gaps
- Siding: no cracks, loose boards or failed caulk
- Roof: no lifted or missing shingles, flashing intact
- Inside: no new ceiling stains or bubbling paint
Common questions
Can you just paint over rotted wood?
No. Paint won't stop rot. It keeps spreading underneath, and the new paint will peel. The soft wood has to be cut out and replaced first.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm damage to siding?
It depends on your policy and what caused the damage. Take photos with dates as soon as you notice it, and call your insurance company before making major repairs.
How do I know if it's a repair or full replacement?
Usually it's a repair. Most siding and fascia damage is limited to a few boards. We'll tell you honestly which one you need.
Get a free inspection
Horizon Restoration is a veteran-owned painting and exterior repair contractor based in Baytown. We serve Mont Belvieu, Deer Park, League City, Clear Lake and the rest of Greater Houston. If you found something on your walk-around, or just want a second set of eyes, call 281-838-2455 or request a free estimate.
Request a QuoteShawn Dyson | Published | Last Updated