If you have noticed that the wood around one of your window frames has become soft to the touch, the wood around your window is rotting. Unfortunately, once the wood starts rotting, you can't stop the process. However, you can patch the wood and allow yourself some time to save up to replace the frame.

Remove The Rotted Wood

The first thing you are going to need to do is remove the rotted wood from the window frame. In order to remove the rotted wood, you are going to need a chisel, a knife and a small paintbrush.

Take the chisel and use it to slowly chip away at the rotting wood. You should be able to easily chip away all the soft wood without putting too much pressure on the chisel. If there are any areas that you are having a difficult time chiseling away, you can use the knife to cut away those areas.

Once you have cut away all the rotting wood, use the small paintbrush to dust all the small wood particles away from the area that you have chiseled out. You want the area to be as clean and as dry as possible before you move on to the next step.

Apply A Wood Hardener

Once you have chiseled and cleaned the hole, you need to purchase a wood hardener. You should be able to find this supply at a local hardware or home improvement store. Most wood hardeners come with their own application brush; if the one you purchase does not, you may want to purchase a paintbrush that is at least an inch wide to use for the application process.

Use the applicator or your paintbrush to apply the wood hardener to the area that you chiseled. You'll want to make sure that you saturate all of the wood inside of the hole and around the hole. Let the wood hardener set and dry according to the directions on the package.

Apply An Epoxy Resin

Once the wood hardener has set, you are going to want to fill in the hole with epoxy resin in order to prevent further rotting as much as possible and to keep your window frame as stable and strong as possible.

You'll need some epoxy resin as well as a putty knife to apply the resin with. You are going to need to fill the entry hole with resin. Fill the hole all the way up so that it is even with the rest of the frame. Sometimes, epoxy shrinks as it dries, so you may need to apply a second coat after the first coat dries.

If you want, once the epoxy dries, you can use a small sheet of sandpaper to smooth down the epoxy and make your wood frame even. Finally, to really seal the wood, you should either paint it or apply a wood sealer.

Remember, this is a temporary fix. Once wood starts to rot, it is hard to prevent the rot from spreading. However, you now have time to save up for a new window frame or vinyl frame and possibly a new window.

For more information, talk with professional window installers, like those at Cornerstone Home Improvement. 

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