Today I was sorting out a mouldy bathroom ceiling for a landlord, which was far from a full day’s work but meant a lot of sitting around watching paint dry (much as I love Crown Clean Extreme Mould-Inhibiting Acrylic Eggshell, the recoat time can a bit frustrating if you don’t have other jobs you can be getting on with).
The landlord called me just after I’d finished the first coat, and I explained to him that I was effectively killing time, waiting for it to dry. He replied, “Oh, well if you’ve got a spare minute, there’s a tiny bubble in the paint on one of the windows in the living room – could you sort that out?”
On inspection, it turned out that there was a small crack in the pane of glass, and that his “tiny bubble” was the tip of an iceberg of rotting wood. Miles from home and without the proper tools or materials to cut out and replace a section of the wood, I called him back and explained that I only had time do a “quick and dirty” repair today, and that he would need to get the window properly repaired in the not-too-distant future.
Not quite the afternoon I had planned…
So, my next move was to scrabble around in the back of the van to see what I had in there that might help me to do a “quick and dirty” repair. Fortunately, it was Ronseal to the Rescue! One container of Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener, and a tub of Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler (the two-part one).
Ronseal to the rescue!
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener is a clear liquid that soaks into rotten wood and sets solid to make the wood hard again, giving you a stronger base to build your filler onto.
It’s dead easy to use. Once you’ve cut away as much of the rotten wood as possible, decant as much hardener as you need into the plastic lid, and apply liberally with a brush, working it into all the nooks and crannies.
Ronseal say you can clean your brushes out with white spirit after use, but whenever I’ve used this in the past my brush has been rock solid by the time I got home, so I suggest you use one that’s near the end of its useful life and can be disposed of if it doesn’t clean up.
A couple of health and safety warnings: Ronseal recommend that you avoid getting any of it on your skin if possible, and definitely not in your eyes, so wear gloves and possibly eye protection when you’re using it. And it smells strongly of acetone, so if you’re working inside with it (sorry, I should have said – it’s suitable for interior and exterior use) it’s best to open windows and have as much ventilation as possible.
I usually apply a second coat after about half an hour (this isn’t a Ronseal recommendation, just me being “belt and braces”!), and then leave it to dry for a couple of hours, after which it will have set the wood rock hard.
Then all you need to do is sand off any excess wood hardener that has dripped onto the surrounding paint (it is very thin, and of course it’s best to wipe up any drips or runs with a wipe immediately), and then you can start building up the filler to complete your repair, prior to painting.
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener can be bought online here, or from most decorators merchants, and it does exactly what it says on the tin! If you can’t get hold of the Ronseal product for some reason, or fancy trying something different, I recently tried Oxera’s Wood Rebuild Stabiliser, which is a two-part product that you have to mix together in the right ratio – I found that worked really well too.
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener Review
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener Review - Decorator's forum UK
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener is a clear liquid that soaks into rotten wood and sets solid to make the wood hard again, giving you a stronger base to build your filler onto.
Product Brand: Ronseal
3.6
Pros
- Does the job its supposed to. It works well.
- Thin and easy to use.
- Very quick drying.
Cons
- It wrecks your paintbrushes.
- Strong smell.
- You should wear PPE.
- You need to look out for drips and clean them straight away.
FAQs
How effective is wood hardener?
Wood hardener, be it Zinsser Peel Stop, Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener, or Oxera, is very effective at stabilising wood before making a repair. It seals everything, prevents further rot, and hardens the timber.
Can I use Ronseal Wood Hardener on damp wood?
No, you can’t use Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener on damp wood for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the material won’t properly penetrate the wood, so won’t be as effective. Secondly, you’re potentially sealing moisture inside the wood, which can lead to accelerated rotting.
How long does Ronseal wood hardener take to dry?
Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener is dry after around 2 hours. This period can be prolonged in cold or moist conditions, simply because it relies on the evaporation of water. You should never rush drying times when dealing with rotted wood.
What does wet rot wood hardener do?
It stabilises rotted wood, creating a base on which to make a repair.
Can you paint directly over wood hardener?
Providing it has properly dried, you should have no problem painting over wood hardener with almost any type of paint.
What can I use instead of wood hardener?
Zinsser Peel Stop is a good alternative to wood hardener. It’s also cheaper, and easier to use. However, it doesn’t set as hard as a product like Ronseal Wet Rot Wood Hardener.
It in fact says clean your brush with Cellulose thinners, that’s what I’ve done and it works fine.