Exterior Rot Repair in Genesee County, MI

Exterior Rot Repair in Genesee County, MI

Rot on the outside of your house doesn't stop on its own. A soft spot in the trim this year is a crumbling board next year, and water getting behind it the whole time. I'm Jacob Sanborn, owner of Expo Contracting Services LLC in Flint/Grand Blanc, Michigan. Exterior rot repair — trim, fascia, and the water damage around them — is the other half of what I do, alongside drywall.

Michigan weather is rough on exterior wood: freeze-thaw cycles, ice dams, gutters that overflow, and summer humidity. I see the same failure points over and over, and I fix them so they don't come back.

What I repair

• Rotted exterior trim — window trim, door trim, corner boards, and decorative trim that's soft, cracked, or crumbling

• Fascia rot — the boards behind your gutters, one of the most common rot spots on Michigan homes

• Siding-adjacent damage — rotted wood around and behind siding edges

• Chimney trim — the wood trim where chimneys meet the roofline, a frequent leak point

• Water-damaged sheathing — when rot has gone past the trim into what's behind it

I cut out the rotted material back to solid wood and replace it — I don't fill deep rot with caulk and hope for the best. Where it makes sense, I can use rot-resistant PVC trim instead of wood so the problem doesn't repeat.

How the job goes

1. 1. You call or book online. Tell me where the rot is. Photos help me gauge whether it's surface-level or structural.

2. 2. I inspect it. Rot hides — I probe the area to find how far it goes and check whether water is still getting in. You get a firm written price.

3. 3. I cut out the rot. Damaged wood comes out back to solid material. If the damage goes deeper than expected, I show you before doing more work — no surprise charges.

4. 4. I replace and seal it. New trim goes in, properly flashed and caulked so water sheds instead of soaking in. Then it's primed and painted to match.

5. 5. You inspect it. Payment is due when the job is done and you're happy.

6. 
   

7. Deep damage (rot into sheathing or framing): priced per job after inspection

Wood vs. PVC matters: PVC trim costs more upfront but never rots. If the same spot has rotted before, PVC is usually the smarter money. I'll give you both options when it applies.

Frequently asked questions

Can you just fill it with wood filler or caulk? If the rot is shallow and the wood is still solid underneath, sometimes. If the wood is soft or crumbling, filler is a band-aid — it fails, usually within a year or two, and the rot keeps spreading underneath. I'll tell you honestly which one you're looking at.

Should I use wood or PVC trim? If the area stays wet — near gutters, near the ground, chimney flashing — PVC. It costs more but it doesn't rot, and you never do the job twice. For dry, protected spots, wood is fine and cheaper. I'll recommend one or the other based on the location.

Do you paint the repair? Yes. New trim gets primed and painted to match the existing color. Exterior paint matching works the same as interior — on older, sun-faded paint I'll tell you if a perfect match isn't realistic.

What if the rot goes deeper than the trim? Then I show you. Sometimes rot gets into the sheathing or framing behind the trim. That's a bigger job, and you deserve to see it and approve the extra work before I do it — not find it on the invoice.

How do I keep it from rotting again? Water management: gutters that drain properly, caulk that isn't cracked, paint that isn't peeling. Most rot I fix started as a small maintenance issue that sat for a few years. I'll point out what to watch.

Are you licensed and insured? Yes. Expo Contracting Services LLC is licensed and insured in Michigan.

Ready to get it fixed? Call Expo Contracting Services LLC at (810) 293-0162 or hit "Get a Free Quote" on expocontractingservices.com. Licensed and insured, serving Genesee & Oakland Counties, Michigan.