When Bondo Isn't the Answer: How We Fixed Severe Wood Rot on a Downtown San Diego Home

Old houses near downtown San Diego have a story to tell — and often that story is written in rotted wood. This project was a compact two-story home just off downtown. Small footprint, big list of problems: severe wood rot eating through the base of the siding, several boards completely destroyed by termites, faded and peeling paint throughout, and a deck that needed a full refresh.

Most painters would reach for a can of Bondo and start filling. We didn't. Here's why — and what we did instead.

Before: faded, peeling exterior with significant wood damage at the base and around window trim

The Problem: Severe Wood Rot at the Base

When we assessed this house, the bottom section of the siding was in rough shape. Years of moisture exposure — classic for downtown San Diego properties — had rotted the wood significantly. Paint was peeling in sheets. In some spots the boards were soft to the touch and crumbling at the base.

Close-up: extreme wood rot and paint failure at the base — boards peeling and breaking apart

Standard procedure would be to use Bondo filler to smooth everything out. But there are real limitations to that approach:

• Bondo has no wood grain texture — on textured siding it creates visible smooth patches that look wrong after painting
• The scope of damage would require days of fill-and-sand cycles
• Even perfectly applied Bondo wouldn't match the profile of old siding — the result would look patched

The Solution: A Wood Trim Strip Instead of Filler

Our foreman proposed: instead of filling, we would nail a carved wood trim strip along the entire bottom contour of the house. A continuous, clean line that covers the damaged zone and gives the siding a defined base.

• Real wood — same material, same paintability, same texture response
• A clean straight line is easier to execute than matching a deteriorating wood profile
• Once painted the same color as the house body, it disappears into the architecture

Every gap and joint was sealed with caulk for a proper waterproof barrier — essential in San Diego's marine layer climate.

"It's painted the same color as the house — it merged with the house and turned out a very beautiful result. You have to look closely to even notice it's there." — Victor Ross

Our foreman spent approximately a day and a half on this repair alone — measuring, cutting, fitting, nailing, caulking every seam, finishing to a paintable surface. That's the kind of prep that makes a paint job last.

The red arrow points to the trim strip. Painted Outer Space DE5824 — blends seamlessly with the siding

How AI Mockups Helped the Client Say Yes

Victor used ChatGPT image generation to create before/after visualizations showing both approaches. The client immediately chose the wood trim option — no hesitation.

Paint Product Spotlight: Dunn-Edwards Exterior

For this project we used Dunn-Edwards exterior paint — and the results were impressive enough that we're now using it more and more instead of Sherwin-Williams. Here's why:

• Coverage: Excellent — fewer coats needed on weathered surfaces
• Consistency: Thick formula, goes on smoothly
• VOC: Zero VOC formula
• Speed: Better single-coat coverage = faster project completion

"I am insanely satisfied with this brand — we will cooperate further." — Victor Ross

Finished front elevation — Dunn-Edwards exterior in Outer Space DE5824 with white trim

Termite Damage: When Filler Isn't an Option

Several boards were completely eaten through by termites. At that level of structural damage, filler is pointless. We replaced those boards entirely before any painting began.

The key lesson: always assess the damage before deciding on the repair method. Paint over termite-damaged wood hides the problem — and creates a much bigger issue a year or two down the road.

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BEFORE

AFTER

Drag to compare — side wall before and after

The Deck: Two Finishes, One Cohesive Look

The deck presented its own design challenge. We proposed a mixed approach:

• The deck surface and railings — painted to match the house body color (Outer Space DE5824)
• The structural wood posts and beams — Dunn-Edwards Oil Base Stain in warm natural tones

Front elevation with deck — blue on surfaces, Dunn-Edwards Oil Base Stain on the structural timber posts

Our foreman mid-project — precision work on the upper section from the deck platform

The Result: A Home That Now Decorates Downtown San Diego

The transformation on this project is the kind that makes you stop when you walk past. A tired, faded, peeling beige house — turned into a sharp, modern Outer Space DE5824 exterior with crisp white trim, a beautifully finished deck, and repaired siding you'd never know had been compromised.

"The client got literally a new house — which now decorates the downtown of our beloved city of San Diego." — Victor Ross

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BEFORE

AFTER

Drag to compare — front elevation transformation