How to Repair Rotted Wood Window Frames

Wooden window frames are often exposed to harsh outdoor elements. Snow, rain and sleet can all become damaging to the wood causing it to rot. Once the wood around a window begins to rot it becomes unsightly and unstable. Fixing a rotted wood window frame is inexpensive and easy.

• Remove the rotted wood. Take a chisel and hammer and pound away the rotting wood. Make sure to pull out all pieces of rotted wood that remain in the window frame. Stop when you have exposed healthy yellow wood on the section of window frame.


• Using a small drill bit, drill 1/2 deep holes about two inches apart in the healthy wood. This will help the epoxy settle into the wood.


• Use a can of compressed air to blow away any debris from drilling. You may want to use a paint brush to aggressively brush away and wood particles remaining in the holes and corners of the window frame. Any wood particles left behind can cause imperfections in your epoxy work.


• Spread a liquid epoxy consolidant over the clean wood completely filling the holes with the epoxy. Wait 5 minutes for the wood to soak in the epoxy and repeat the step.


• Stop applying the liquid epoxy once a thin hard layer has formed over the wood. This will help protect the wood from future damage.


• Prepare the epoxy filler according to the directions on the packaging. Some epoxy fillers may need to be mixed with water.


• Scoop the epoxy filler onto the window frame where you removed the rotted wood. Shape the putty to the window frame. Use a putty knife to smooth out the epoxy and make it flush to the edge of the house and window frame.


• Sand the epoxy so that it is even with the rest of the window frame.


• Once dried, the epoxy can be painted any color to match the rest of the windows on the house.