Older homes have a lot of charm. But they also need regular exterior maintenance.
Recently, repeat clients asked our team to evaluate the siding and exterior trim on their charming 1909 bungalow located just a few streets from Loose Park in Kansas City.
They noticed some wear around the windows and suspected wood rot might be starting.
After our expert handyman team inspected the exterior, we confirmed several areas of wood rot around window trim, siding, and architectural details. To properly repair the damage, we needed to remove deteriorated wood, install new trim and siding materials, and seal and paint the repaired areas.
Our handyman crew for this project — Jim Clark, Mark Garies, Lester Withers, and Gerard Algie — completed the entire repair project over two weeks.
The result restored the exterior while protecting the home from further moisture damage!
Table of Contents
Inspecting the Exterior for Wood Rot
The first step in any exterior repair project is a full inspection.
When we walked around the home, we looked closely at:
- Window trim and ledges
- Sill noses
- Band boards
- Brick molding
- Siding seams
- Areas where water collects
Because the home was built in 1909, many of the exterior wood components had seen decades of weather exposure.
We quickly found soft wood and early rot in several places, especially around windows and under the bay window area. Fixing it early enough helped prevent deeper structural damage which can become dangerous and expensive.
Areas Where We Found Damage
During the inspection, we identified several areas that needed repair or replacement. Once we started opening up some of the trim areas, the full scope of the repairs became clear.
These included:
- Tongue and groove boards under the bay window
- Window ledges and trim around most windows
- Sill noses and band boards
- Crown molding above windows
- Some siding shake shingles
- Small stucco areas
Some pieces had full rot and needed replacement. Others only needed repair with wood restoration products like Bondo.
Our Wood Rot Repair Process
Once we mapped out the repairs, our crew began removing all damaged wood and preparing the surfaces for new materials. This involved scraping off or cutting out affected areas.
Jim and Mark started by demoing the rotted wood trim around the windows and at the roofline. Then they removed the damaged wood beneath the bay window.
After the old trim was removed, we installed new trim pieces and prepared the surrounding areas for additional siding and repair work.
Throughout the project, our team worked to:
- Remove deteriorated wood
- Inspect the structure underneath
- Replace damaged trim and siding
- Repair smaller areas where possible
- Seal and prime all new materials
We used Bondo to fill in and seal up cracks. Once that was dry, we primed and then painted with the existing trim paint color for a seamless finish.
Removing all compromised wood ensures the rot does not continue spreading.
Replacing Trim, Sill Nose, and Band Boards
Several areas of trim needed full replacement.
We installed new:
- Sill noses
- Band boards
- Brick molding
- Center trim pieces
We also replaced crown molding above some windows using PVC crown molding with new flashing. PVC performs much better in exterior conditions and helps prevent moisture from causing future rot.
These repairs reinforced the structure around the windows and improved the overall look of the siding lines.
Window and Siding Repairs
Once the main trim repairs were complete, the team focused on the siding and window areas. Lester and Mark worked on the cedar shake siding by removing damaged shingles and installing new ones to match the existing pattern. The upper window repairs were completed first, which allowed the crew to move downward across the exterior siding areas.
Throughout the process we:
- Replaced brick molding where needed
- Installed new trim around several windows
- Repaired window ledges
- Replaced damaged cedar shake shingles
These repairs restored the weather barrier around the windows and blended seamlessly with the home's original exterior style.
Cedar Shake and Bay Window Repairs
The bay window area required some specialized repair work.
Underneath the bay window, the original tongue and groove boards had deteriorated from years of moisture exposure.
Our crew removed the damaged boards and installed a new bead ceiling under the bay window, along with proper insulation to protect the area moving forward.
The cedar shake siding also required several replacement sections. Once those were installed, we sealed, caulked, primed, and painted the shakes to match the rest of the home.
During this phase, Mark also sourced exterior trim that would work between the stucco base trim and the cedar shakes. Finding a close match took some searching, but we located a material that blended well with the existing exterior details.
Final Repairs, Priming, and Painting
With the carpentry complete, the team moved on to sealing and finishing the repairs.
Gerard and Mark replaced additional crown pieces and backers, finished window repairs, and installed new window sills on the south side of the home.
The band boards were completed and the areas beneath the bay window were painted.
Finally, the crew:
- Caulked all seams and joints
- Primed repaired wood areas
- Applied two coats of paint where needed
- Completed detail painting around the windows and siding
Once the exterior work was finished, the team broke down the scaffolding and cleaned up the job site.
The Finished Result
Over the course of two work weeks, our crew completed extensive exterior repairs that restored both the function and appearance of this beautiful bungalow near Loose Park.
The home now features:
- Repaired window trim and ledges
- New cedar shake siding sections
- Reinforced sill noses and band boards
- Restored bay window underside
- Freshly sealed and painted exterior details
Replaced area under bay window.
Most importantly, the repairs stopped the spread of wood rot and protected the home from future moisture damage.
Need Wood Rot or Siding Repairs?
If your home has peeling paint, soft trim, or cracked siding, wood rot may already be starting.
The good news is that catching it early can save a lot of money and prevent bigger structural repairs.
If you live in Kansas City or Lake of the Ozarks and need help with:
- Wood rot repair
- Exterior trim replacement
- Siding repair
- Window trim restoration
Our team would be happy to take a look! For more information on what other exterior repairs and improvements we can do click here.
Contact us today to schedule an inspection and keep your home protected for years to come.
Want to see some other finished projects our expert handyman team brought to life? Check out our handyman gallery here.