Doors and Windows - Exterior door trim - repaired by previous owners and rotting??

Hi!

I'm currently getting my my house painted/stained. I have French doors leading out to my deck. Before buying the house a few years ago, as part of the inspection comments, the previous owners fixed a leak and rotten wood trim on the outside. I didn't realize what they exactly did at the time, but I now can see that they just cut the bottom 5 inches (or so) of the trim on the bottom and replaced that (on both sides).

Fast forward to today -- The paint was all peeling and the new painter scraped it off and it seems like the wood is rotting again (not only that, but there is a seam now b/w the 2 pieces of trim wood from when they replaced it). The painter won't replace the wood - he's just going to prime and re-paint... but I assume the correct thing to do is to replace that entire piece of trim (top to bottom)?? Is this possible? Then recaulk/prime/paint? Any suggestions for what the painter can do as a temporary patch? Should he caulk that seam, or put something else in there??

I wouldn't be doing this myself - so would a carpenter be the best person to fix it?

Thanks!!!

Yes, a carpenter or skilled handyman can replace the whole piece. Hopefully it hasn't gotten into the frame of the door itself?

If it is the common brickmold profile find someone who will use ,and is familiar with, PVC trim. Never worry about it rotting again. If it's some other sort, it may still be available in PVC.

BTW brickmold is just a type of trim profile. Even sided house can have brickmold.

If you go with wood, make sure that all sides [including bottom edge] are primed before it's installed. Properly painted and caulked wood shouldn't rot. I've seen repairs where just the bottom portion was replaced that held up for a long time. The key is keeping the wood dry! including any moisture that the wood can wick up.

Caulking is the correct material to seal where the 2 pieces meet. If the wood is replaced after the painter leaves, make sure he leaves you some touch up paint. Both for the siding and trim, if they are different. Fresh paint usually touches up well.

Just want to second the suggestion of composite trim - three years ago, as I experiment, we did the exterior one of my rental rehabs in 100% low maintenance materials: Royal Wood (http://www.royalwood.com/), Azek (http://www.azek.com/), TriMax (http://www.larsdavid.com/TriMax_Structural_Plastic_Lumber.htm) and the like. It cost around 15K more than standard construction, but after three winters it still looks pristine - I'm never using conventional materials again on property I intend to hold for five years or more.

Thanks for all the replies! I will make sure he caulks/primes the existing wood and then look into replacing with low-maintenance trim (I really like that idea!).

Note that I am also looking into replacing the door w/ a sliding French door (which I will post another question about) -- and I assume they'd replace the trim at that point??? Just not sure I want to spend that much $$ this year or wait.

Thanks!!