WDO Repair question on Lap Siding

[stevebxl]

Home in FL. My listing just failed a WDO (wood rot) inspection for the 2nd time. There is wood lap siding on the exterior which had some sunken nail holes. The holes were dug out and repaired with wood putty.

The inspector says that the entire lap (6") has to be replaced and that wood putty is not allowed. Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

[Scottpat]

Wood rot is a fungus. Unless all of the spores are killed it will continue to live and prosper under the patch. It is always best to replace rotted or rotting wood.

Are you talking about a hardboard product, like Masonite or real wood lap board siding?

[randynavarro]

Cedar siding - not a problem. Just ugly.

Any other composition product; problem that's easily resolved unless the product has already begun to "fail".

What's failure? Google class action lawsuits on the different siding products and read what the courts define as failure.

Putties and fillers are acceptable solutions according to the mfr's specs. I've read.

You need to know what product you have exactly.

[Home Pride]

Originally posted by stevebxl

The inspector says that the entire lap (6") has to be replaced and that wood putty is not allowed. Is this true?

No that is not entirely true here in Florida. There is no blanket statement requiring the wood to be replaced. The DACS form 13645 does require the listing of specific type and location of damage, and the name of the Organism causing the damage.

If the damage is repaired (by whatever means) and there is no "visible evidence of damage", then you have meet the requirements.

Now if the wood siding is still "damaged" (subjective, of course; perhaps the repairs were poorly completed) then the inspector can call it out as "visible damage". It is likely, however, that wood damage still exists in the siding, and that is what is being called out on the report.

Dom.