Differences Of Dry Rot a...

Property News

Dry Rot vs. Wet Rot:
How to Spot the Difference and Treat It

Property owners need to do all they can to protect their property from wet rot and dry rot, as these wood-destroying fungi can severely damage a home as they develop.

Fortunately, this guide from timber supplies merchant Travis Perkins will help to distinguish dry rot from wet rot, as well as what to do if either type of fungi starts to grow:

Differences between dry rot & wet rot
Homeowners finding rot will likely become concerned about their property and how much it will cost to fix the problem. Identifying the differences between dry rot and wet rot should be the first step taken though, as that can then determine how to deal with the issue.

As dry rot and wet rot are two different types of fungi, they each need varying amounts of moisture content to grow. Dry rot can germinate on timber with a moisture content of between 20% and 30%, while wet rot fungi thrive on timber with moisture content of around 50%.

Richardson & Starling

Another key difference between these types of rot is how they can spread. Spores generated by the fungus of dry rot can move through plaster and masonry, so can travel around a property with ease. However, wet rot can only spread to nearby damp timbers, so damage caused is often localised.

Once a property owner knows whether their building has problems with dry rot or wet rot, the next stage is finding out information about the type of fungi being dealt with to understand how to treat it.

5 questions to ask about dry rot

1. What causes dry rot?
A rather nasty fungus called serpula lacrymans causes dry rot. It can cause serious damage if it gets into timber and can spread quite fast, so should be acted on quickly.

Dry Rot

2. What are the signs of dry rot?

Telltale signals that indicate dry rot include:

● Timber having a dry and brittle appearance
● Timber shrinking, which in itself causes cracking often along the grain of the wood
● Timber feeling soft and spongy when touched
● A damp and musty smell
● Orange spore dust possibly being present

3. Where does dry rot grow?
Dry rot can affect any unprotected timber in a property that becomes damp. This is the case whether the wood is installed on a roof or a ground floor.

Leaking roofs, defective gutters and plumbing leaks inside a property can often result in dry rot beginning to grow.

4. How dangerous is dry rot?

Dry rot definitely should not be ignored, as it’s one of the most hazardous types of timber fungi. While it isn’t believed to produce any toxic chemicals, dry rot in a property does indicate that there are high levels of condensation and dampness present – both of these can cause people respiratory problems and worsen the effects of conditions such as asthma.

Brickwork, plaster and timber will also weaken when dry rot spreads through them, which can result in health and safety concerns due to the risk of structures collapsing.

5. What are the treatment methods for dry rot?
To get rid of dry rot once identified, specialist treatments are required which would need professional trades to investigate and suggest the correct repair actions. The fungal area of dry rot needs to be treated directly and scrubbed down using a hard-bristled brush. Next, a wood fungus treatment should be applied.

There may be times where a section of the timber will need to be cut away and replaced. These are usually extreme cases though, but if this is required then apply the same wood fungus treatment.

5 questions to ask about wet rot

1. What causes wet rot?
Excess moisture in a property will cause wet rot. While sometimes seen as the less severe counterpart to dry rot, wet rot is still a problem that needs to be taken seriously.

Timber that becomes damp and never dries through properly will begin to decay. Eventually, this can result in serious structural issues if left untreated.

2. What are the signs of wet rot?

Wet rot can be identified by these indicators:

● Timber will be wet and spongy to the touch
● There’ll be discolouration of the timber
● Timber shrinking and cracking, often along the grain of the wood, just like with dry rot
● A damp and musty smell, again similar to dry rot

Rentokil

Wet Rot

3. Where does wet rot grow?
Wet rot can thrive in any damp conditions around a property where there’s unprotected timber, with this type of fungi encouraged to grow whenever a property has maintenance problems like broken guttering, leaking pipes, or structural defects.

4. How dangerous is wet rot?
Wet rot can weaken the structural integrity of a property once it spreads through any timber present.This type of fungi can provide a breeding ground for pests such as insects and rodents too, which can risk further damage.

People with asthma and other respiratory conditions can also become more sensitive to the spores produced by wet rot, resulting in coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.

5. What are the treatment methods for wet rot?
Just like when treating dry rot, professional trades are needed to investigate and advise on the correct repair actions due to these being specialist treatments.

They will start by identifying the source. This can sometimes be quite a simple task, as it’s looking around anything which requires plumbing – so damp patches next to baths, toilets and washing machines.

When a leak has been found, the specialist will fix it and then give the wall time to dry to get rid of a source where wet rot fungi can thrive. After this, wood rot treatment will be applied to affected timber.