Fascia boards
The trim board behind your gutters stays wet when gutters overflow. It is one of the first places rot appears.
Wood repair · Venice, CA
Same-Day Dry Rot Checks and Roof Sheathing Repair in Venice, CA
Damp ocean air and old leaks slowly eat away at the wood that holds your roof together. Our dry rot repair team replaces soft fascia, rotted eaves and weak roof decking on homes across Venice, CA. Call for a same-day check if you see sagging or crumbling wood. A soft spot that gives way during a storm becomes an emergency fast.
- Rot found and mapped
- Wood replaced, not hidden
- Eaves to decking
- Photos of every board
Hidden damage
Where Dry Rot Hides on a Roof
Rot often starts where you cannot see it. These are the spots we check first on Venice homes.
Exposed rafter tails
Many Craftsman bungalows in Venice show off rafter ends under the eaves. Paint wears off and the ends soak up moisture.
Roof decking
The plywood or boards under your roof can rot from slow leaks. You may feel soft spots when walking on the roof.
Under flat roofs and decks
Water trapped under a worn membrane can rot the wood for years before a stain shows up inside.
Around skylights and chimneys
Failed flashing lets water seep into the wood frame around openings in the roof.
Shaded north-facing areas
Spots that stay damp from morning fog dry slowly and are more likely to grow rot.
Our process
How We Repair Rotted Roof Wood the Right Way
Covering rot with paint or caulk only hides it. Rot keeps spreading as long as the wood stays damp. We remove it and stop the water that caused it.
- Probe and map. We test the wood with a tool to find where the rot starts and stops.
- Cut out the bad wood. We remove every soft section back to solid, dry wood.
- Replace and match. New fascia, rafter tails or decking are cut to match the old profile.
- Prime and protect. All new wood is primed on every side so moisture cannot soak in.
- Fix the cause. We repair the leak, flashing or gutter that let water in.
Overflowing gutters are a top cause of fascia rot. Ask about new seamless gutters while we are there.
How much to replace
Patch, Sister or Replace? Our Wood Repair Options
Not every rotted board needs to be torn out. Here is how we decide what each spot needs.
| What we find | Repair approach | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft surface on one board | Cut out the bad section and splice in new wood | Fascia and trim with small rot spots |
| Rot at the end of a rafter tail | Replace the tail and join it to sound wood | Craftsman eaves and open overhangs |
| Weak roof deck in one area | Replace those sheets of plywood or boards | Repairs and partial re-roofs |
| Rot across much of the roof deck | Replace the decking during a new roof | Older roofs with long-term leaks |
Widespread rot is a sign the roof itself is done. See our complete re-roofing service.
Know the difference
Dry Rot or Termite Damage? How to Tell
Both can leave wood weak and crumbly, so they are easy to mix up. Here are a few simple clues.
- Dry rot often looks dark, cracked into small cubes and crumbles when you press it.
- Termite damage often shows tunnels inside the wood, tiny holes or small piles of droppings that look like sand.
- Rot almost always sits near a water source, like a leak, gutter or damp corner.
We repair wood damaged by rot. If we see signs of termites, we will tell you so you can call a pest control company before we rebuild. Our goal is to fix it once. For a full check of the roof above the damaged wood, book a roof and attic inspection.
Related help
Protect the Wood After It Is Fixed
These services stop the water that caused the rot. We repair dry rot in these nearby areas too.
Related roofing services
Brands for this job
Nearby areas we serve
Have more questions? Read our roofing tips and guides, learn about our team or send us a message.
Dry rot questions
Dry Rot Repair Questions From Homeowners
What you should know before we start cutting out wood.
What causes dry rot on a roof?
Dry rot is caused by fungus that grows in wood that stays damp. Leaks, overflowing gutters, missing paint and foggy, shaded spots all give it the moisture it needs.
Can you just paint over dry rot?
Paint can hide rot for a while, but the decay keeps going underneath. The only lasting fix is to remove the rotted wood and replace it with new, primed wood.
Do you repair exposed rafter tails on Craftsman homes?
Yes. We cut and shape new rafter tails to match the original style, so your bungalow keeps its classic look.
Is dry rot repair done during a new roof install?
Yes. When the old roof comes off, we can see every board. We replace rotted decking before the new roof goes on and show you photos of each section.
Do not wait
Stop Wood Rot Before It Reaches Your Rafters
Soft wood only gets weaker. Book a dry rot check and get a clear plan to repair the damage and stop the moisture behind it.