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Contact (619) 971‑1354

Just North of Torrey Pines

Dry Rot Repair &
Remodeling in Del Mar

Damp ocean air finds every gap in a wood house. We repair dry rot properly (find it, remove it, stop the water that caused it) and remodel Del Mar homes so they hold up.

Schedule an Inspection

Coastal Homes

Built by the beach,
worn by it too

Del Mar's homes get more weather than most. The marine layer rolls in most mornings, salt carries well inland, and wood siding, decks, window frames and fascia boards spend much of the year damp. Over time that moisture feeds rot, usually out of sight under paint that still looks fine, until a deck board gives or a window sill crumbles.

A lot of our Del Mar calls start as a repair and grow once the walls are open: a remodel of the room the rot was in, new windows, or an exterior rebuilt so the problem doesn't come back. We handle the whole range, from a single rotted beam to a full renovation.

Del Mar is also one of the most closely reviewed places to build in the county. Most exterior changes, additions and new homes in the City of Del Mar go through the city's Design Review Board. We prepare for that process so it informs the design instead of delaying it.

Dry Rot, Explained

How we repair dry rot
so it stays fixed

Dry rot is a fungus that feeds on wood that stays wet. Cutting out the soft spot isn't a repair unless the water stops too.

Where we find it

Window and door sills, the bottom courses of wood siding, deck boards and the joists beneath them, fascia and rafter tails, and anywhere a gutter or flashing has been overflowing for years. Paint that keeps peeling in the same spot is often the first sign.

Finding the full extent

We probe and open up the area until we reach sound wood on every side. Rot rarely stops where it shows, and a repair that leaves infected wood behind will fail.

Fixing the water first

Every rot repair includes the cause: missing or failed flashing, a sill with no slope, caulk standing in for proper detailing, a sprinkler soaking the siding. If the water keeps coming, the new wood will rot too.

Rebuilding to last

Damaged structural members are replaced and properly connected. Where it makes sense we use rot-resistant or composite materials, primed on every face and fixed with corrosion-resistant fasteners, then flash, seal and paint so water sheds away from the wood.

Repair to Renovation

Repair, remodel,
restore

Rot Removal & Rebuilding

From a single window sill to framing, decks and structural beams, plus the flashing and drainage fixes that keep it from coming back.

Rot and restoration work →

Coastal Remodels

Interiors updated and exteriors rebuilt, with details and materials chosen for a house that lives beside the ocean.

Remodel services →

Decks & Outdoor Living

New decks, railings and outdoor rooms built with materials and connectors that stand up to damp, salty air.

Decks and outdoor rooms →
Open-plan living space after a Del Mar remodel

Del Mar Project Photo

A Del Mar remodel built around an open plan

One of our Del Mar remodels, finished with an open floor plan.

Opening up an older coastal home usually means new beams and posts, and it's often where hidden moisture damage turns up, which is why we inspect the framing as soon as the walls come down.

More of our remodels in the gallery →

What Owners Ask

Rot, repairs
and review boards

How do I know if my Del Mar home has dry rot?

Press a screwdriver into the suspect wood. If it sinks in easily or the wood crumbles, there's rot. Other signs are paint that keeps peeling in the same place, soft or spongy deck boards, cracked or crumbling window sills, and staining around windows and doors. Because rot often hides behind paint, we probe and open up suspect areas before giving you a price.

Can dry rot be repaired, or does the wood have to be replaced?

Small, non-structural areas can sometimes be cut back and filled with an epoxy consolidant. Rot in structural members such as joists, posts, beams and load-bearing sills should be removed and replaced. Either way, the moisture source has to be fixed or the problem comes back.

Do I need Design Review Board approval to remodel in Del Mar?

Many exterior changes, additions and new homes in the City of Del Mar go before the Design Review Board, and neighbors are notified. Interior-only remodels and like-for-like repairs usually don't. We confirm what your project requires with the city before work is scheduled.

Is Del Mar Heights part of the City of Del Mar?

No. Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley belong to San Diego proper, so those projects go to San Diego's permit counter rather than to the City of Del Mar. We work in both and handle whichever applies to your address.

Does homeowners insurance cover dry rot?

Usually not when it comes from long-term moisture or deferred maintenance, which is how most rot develops. Some policies cover rot caused by a sudden covered event, such as a burst pipe. Check your policy with your insurer; we can document the damage and its cause for a claim.

Coastal Wear and Tear

Found soft wood?
Let's take a look.

Have Us Take a Look (619) 971‑1354

Inspections & Estimates

Request a
Rot Inspection

Tell us what you're seeing (soft wood, peeling paint, a sagging deck) or what you'd like to remodel. We'll reply by the next business day to schedule a visit.

Service Area
Olde Del Mar, Beach Colony, Crest Canyon, Del Mar Heights & Carmel Valley

Inspection Request

Photos can follow by email.

Private, and never sold.

Inspection Request Sent

We'll contact you to schedule the inspection.

Call Now Free Estimate