We all love the outdoors and screened porches are a very popular feature of cabins and summer homes. Unfortunately, unless these rooms are protected, they can suffer from wood rot or termites within 7 years of installation. Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to take preventative measures so that you can enjoy your investment for many years to come.
Within five to seven years after installation, the wood will rot if the wood surfaces are exposed to water. I’m sure when you added that screen porch, you had visions that it would last much longer than 5-7 years! Unless you take the proper steps to stop it, your wooden floors and beams will slowly start to deteriorate.
Wood rot is accelerated even faster if there is mold and mildew on the surface of the wood sections of your screen rooms in Sacramento, CA porch or room. Painting is never enough to prevent or slow down the decay process. Surfaces that are repeatedly exposed to the elements will undoubtedly rot if left exposed to the elements.
Not only do you have to worry about wood rot, but when moisture continually enters the components of any wood surface, the area will eventually attract termites into your home. Termites thrive in the presence of wood and moisture, and they are often difficult to detect until it is too late and your home has become structurally defective.
One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to put removable sheer vinyl curtains on the screened porch. During rainy days and winter months, you can fasten the curtains in place to keep the interior of your porch nice and dry. No snow will seep in winter and the rains will stay outside.
This will not only keep the wood nice and dry to prevent wood rot and termites, but it will also prevent mold from growing in your room with mosquito nets. Mold can be very harmful to health, and long-term exposure can pose health risks for many people. It will also keep the furniture in the room smelling fresher. There’s nothing worse than sitting on a stinky, moldy couch! Once this happens, you will see that you no longer spend time in the room. Too bad, as it was a long-awaited and expensive addition to the house or cabin.
