Q: My house has a lot of wood-framed windows. The windows are in good condition, but several of the sills have rotted areas. I know it is best to replace those sills, but I can’t afford it right now.

Wet rot turns wood spongy – and it will soon spread, compromising the strength and security of the window. Therefore it's best to deal with it as soon as possible. Find all the rot first. Apart from ...

Plumber Paul Holland offers another possible cause of mysterious water running in toilets, which was discussed in a recent column. “If the toilet’s refill tube is below the tank’s water line, it will ...

I received a call from a regular reader this week, asking how to replace a rotten window sill. I said, “I’m not sure if I can articulate the detail involved in a written article.” I told him I would ...

Q: We have windows (three crank-open windows and one picture window) that have rotted sills on the outside. Do we have to replace the whole window, or can we just replace the outside sill? The picture ...

Question: Some of the unpainted wood on our vacation cabin has started to rot. Is there a way to treat this and paint over it, or do we have to replace it? Answer: Wood with minor rot can often be ...

Q: Tim, the window frame on the back of my house is deteriorating. There is no gutter over this window, but rather, rain diverters up in the shingles. What's the best way to repair the damage and ...

Q: Our house turns 100 this year. We have some dry rot on the exterior of the wooden window frames and windowsill. Does one dig it out and fill with a special concrete? What are the options and what ...