If a window frame is starting to rot, the first thing I do is check how bad the damage is. If it’s just a small patch, I can usually fix it without needing to replace the whole frame. But if the wood is badly rotten or falling apart, it might need a section replaced.



For small fixes, I scrape out all the soft, rotten wood using a chisel or scraper. Then I treat the area with a special wood hardener to stop the rot from spreading. Once that dries, I fill the gap with a wood filler or epoxy and shape it to match the frame. After it's dry and smooth, I give it a coat of primer and exterior paint to seal it properly.


I also check what caused the rot in the first place—could be water getting in through old paint, cracks, or poor drainage. Fixing those things helps stop it from happening again. Regular checks and repainting can really help keep window frames in good shape over time.

 

It looks like at a minimum that you'll need to pull off the old brick moulding and replace it. After it's removed, you can evaluate the installation method. If budget allows, I'd replace it with PVC moulding, which runs around $2/ft.

 

The contractor I talked to actually discouraged me from using PVC moulding, saying that it doesn’t allow for thermal expansion and contraction…

 

if there’s anything else that needs to be done

I don't like that downspout exiting so close to the window. Better if pointed away from the window. Add B style elbow.

Maybe somebody here knows better than me, but how the shingles are cut into the brick, on either side of the window, don't look right. I don't see any flashing.

 

The windows look like they are vinyl. So, that has not rotted.

For sure the outside brickmold/trim is bad - without sticking an icepick through the rotted trim, it's hard to tell if the actual window frame is compromised vs. the wood used to finish up the appearance around the actual window.

As @unicasmish mentioned; even if the window FRAME is rotted a bit, that can be repaired without replacing the entire window, thus messing up the inside of the house as well as the outside.

First step is to remove the lower or side trim and inspect the actual frame of the window. The pretty trim on the outside can be properly replace fairly easily.

 

In addition to replacing the brick moulding & bottom trim/sill I suspect your gutters also need attention to prevent this from reoccurring. I am speculating, but water must be overflowing the gutters and pouring down onto that pair of windows in the first photograph.

A similar gutter overflow situation may be affecting the window in the 3rd photo. Or it might just be getting affected from wind driven rain. That window is sitting so close to the roof that a hard rain could easily splash up onto the bottom of that window.

 

Yes, it only happens in certain conditions. It’s only when a big storm comes, and even then it’s not a guarantee.

 

All the stuff mentioned before has to be done for sure, but I think that the most important thing is to evaluate why so much water has washed over the wood pieces.

I suspect that a very poor flashing and/or sealing job was done.

Andy.

 

I would want the PVC, but at the end of the day, you either have to respect the advice of your contractor or decide you need to find a new guy.