That "no spoilers" rule is actually a great idea.

Check if it's even worth fixing. That Phoenix sun will warp and crack that wood anyway, making a small groove the least of your problems. Save the repair money for a full replacement down the line.

My buddy had a job held up for two days because a possum family decided his work truck's engine block was a five-star hotel. The city wildlife people said it was a "low priority dispatch" since nobody was in danger. He just sat there drinking gas station coffee watching the mama possum glare at him from under the hood. Sometimes the system just moves at its own slow pace for the small stuff.