Small clues deserve a closer look
Rot is not always obvious. Paint may bubble or crack repeatedly in one place, a sill may feel soft, a screw may no longer hold, or a corner may swell after wet weather. Dark staining around an opening can also point to a moisture path, although staining alone does not prove rot.
Use a gentle check on accessible, non-structural trim and note exactly where the change is. Do not keep probing damaged timber or remove parts of a window or door if you are not sure what is carrying the load.
Repair the timber before you renew the colour
A new coat can hide a soft area for a short time but cannot restore the timber underneath. The useful sequence is to identify the moisture source, repair or replace the affected detail, prepare the sound surface, and then finish it properly.
Early advice gives you more scope to deal with a local repair instead of waiting until a whole opening or length of trim is affected.
Common questions
Can rotted timber simply be painted?
No. Paint is a finish, not a structural repair. Soft or failing timber should be assessed and repaired before it is prepared and painted.
