Wet & Dry Rot

Wet and dry rot are primarily problems faced by timbers in your property. Don’t let the names fool you, both are normally caused by moisture within a property whether due to rising and penetrating dampness or even a leaking pipe or drain.

They are very different from each other with dry rot being the most aggressive and difficult to eliminate.

Wet rot occurs only in timbers that have become wet over a period of time resulting in a faster natural decomposition process but as soon as the source of moisture has been eliminated and the affected timber replaced, life is rosy. Springy floor boards at ground floor level at the edges of a room are one common tell-tale sign that something needs looking at. We’ve included a couple of photos of wet rot to help you identify this problem but please call us to advise on the best course of action if you suspect your property is suffering.

Dry rot is a bit more of a handful. Dry rot is a fungus that has the ability to travel throughout the property from its source looking for timber to infest and grow from. In most cases, it has been caused by a water leak either internally or externally along with poor ventilation. The elimination of the dry rot fungus requires exposing the area it has grown around, removing and replacing plaster and timbers it has infested and sterilising the area with a fungicide.

It has an uncanny ability to grow up behind plaster and through mortar joints of brick walls on its search for food. Many articles have been written about dry rot which tend to scare the average homeowner with stories of entire buildings having to be ripped down because of dry rot infestation... Yes.. It can happen in severe cases but in the majority of instances, if caught early enough, it is dealt with effectively and efficiently with the minimum of fuss.

Tell-tale signs include a musty mushroom smell within your property, the cube-like cracking formation of seemingly healthy skirting boards, floor boards and door frames or even a reddish coloured dust emanating from gaps in timbered areas. We have included a few photos of classic dry rot outbreaks to help you identify the problem initially but please give us a call and let us advise on the best course of action. As you know we offer free surveys and advice so what have you got to lose?