Understanding Dry And Wet Rot

London’s consistently wet conditions are hard on all structures, with the all-pervading moisture causing all kinds of harm, but none are more susceptible to the damp than those constructed of wood. Let’s take a look at two of the most common damp-related problems that plague timber structures, dry rot and wet rot!

Dry Rot – This is one of the most destructive problems that a wood structure can face. Dry rot spreads swiftly, destroying wood from flooring to roof beams, compromising the structural integrity of your building! Despite its name, dry rot is actually caused by an excess of moisture in wood, often coming from sources like wet window sills, condensation, leaking pipes, and rainwater penetration. Any long-term exposure to water will trigger it.

Dry rot is actually a rapidly spreading fungus that eagerly devours its food source, timber! Dry rot is one of the most feared hazards of property ownership, and it is essential to address its encroaching presence without delay by consulting a dry rot specialist near you. The obvious signs of a dry rot infestation are when the wood becomes dark and discoloured, cracked, brittle, and shrunken.

You should also watch for strands of yellow or lilac, and silky grey growths that can be easily peeled off. In some cases, the soft fungal bodies resemble fluffy, white cotton wool covered with spores. The affected wood also begins to stink, emitting a damp, pungent odour. A professional dry rot treatment is your only hope of saving an infected wood structure!

Wet Rot – This is more common than dry rot in London’s timber buildings, and the term actually includes a collection of several species of white rot and brown rot, all of which thrive in damp, high-moisture spaces. Wet rot particularly likes to grow close to a water source and its surrounding damp areas, which usually coincide with structural defects in the building, and can be a result of rising or penetrating damp.

These invasive fungi are often found growing under floorboards. Wet rot’s presence is usually revealed by an unpleasant, damp and musty smell, and if your floorboards feel spongy and springy when you walk on them. Also, watch for structural timbers that have become swollen and misshapen. While not quite as destructive as dry rot, a professional wet rot treatment absolutely must be applied as soon as its presence is revealed, or it is sure to spread all through your property’s wood structures!

You can help prevent these insidious wood rots by doing the following:

• Treat old and new timber with a dry rot resistant solution followed by borate wood preservative.
• Remove and discard any timber that has already been damaged.
• Close off any root sources of moisture ingress and damp spread to prevent any future recurrence.

If you would like to order a free damp survey of your property by one of our damp proofing specialists, just give us a call on 0208 226 6330, email us at [email protected], or submit our online form for general questions about our services. We are here to keep you safe and dry!