What type of contractor should I hire to fix wet wood around the gable vent in my 20-year-old house after a storm, especially with stone veneer?

You should definitely check it after a normal rainstorm to see if it’s wet. Check again after one with wind blowing toward the vent. It appears to be wind-driven rain from that direction. In hurricane-prone areas, you’ll encounter this at every louvered gable vent. It happens intermittently, only when wind-driven rain comes from a specific direction. High winds can force water through or around flashings. If water is coming through the louvres, there’s not much that can be done other than protecting the materials below in some way. Proper attic ventilation is necessary. I don’t see any house wrap or plastic around the rough opening, which may indicate poor installation. If the unit has a flange, removing it will be difficult with the stone over the flange. I suspect that the vent is flanged. Applying sealant around both sides of the trim work and any joints might solve the issue. I work as an Inspector and I often find numerous issues where this faux stone lacks proper flashing and waterproofing details at wall penetrations and transition areas. Much of this is concealed by the installation of the stone. I hope that’s not the problem you’re facing because repairs would be messy. It seems like the installers did the right thing at the roof/wall transition instead of installing down to the shingles, which is a common mistake I come across. This is a good indication that other details may have been handled correctly. Any skilled handyman with experience in roofing and window installations can apply sealant. It may be necessary to remove the trim to do it properly. If that’s the case, consider using composite trim. It doesn’t rot and maintains its color. Since your trim is already white, there’s no need for painting. Wishing you the best of luck.

When working with faux stone, you should have at least one layer of tar paper, but double layers are ideal. The tar paper tends to wrinkle, creating a weep plane for water to flow out at the bottom of the stone installation. Remember, the stone itself isn’t waterproof. Most sidings allow some water in, so it’s crucial to have a drainage system in place. If not, there could be hidden issues that are much bigger than a vent. It’s surprising to hear there’s no house wrap – what year was this house built? It looks quite modern, and house wrap has been a standard since the 80s except for a short period.

I’m also in NC, all the way out East. I’m a licensed GC, Home Inspector, and Termite/Pest operator. I remember now, back in 2003, there was a brief period where wrap wasn’t required. Back in the 70s, we used tar paper, which is still a solid choice. Personally, I’ve never built a house without a WRB. Having vinyl without a weather-resistant barrier can lead to issues, especially in hurricane zones.