Dry Rot & Wet Rot Questions
- What causes timbers to rot?
- What is the difference between wet rot and dry rot?
- What is dry rot and how is it caused?
- Can wet rot develop into dry rot?
- Why is dry rot so called, if it is caused by moisture and / or water?
- How much will it cost to treat rot and will you give me a fixed price quotation for the work?
- What can I expect to happen if I don't have the rot treated?
- Is wet rot more common than dry rot?
- I think I have dry rot in my property. How would you carry out treatments?
- Will I have to move out during treatments?
- Can dry rot cause health problems?
- Would I be covered under my home insurance?
- How can you prevent rot in the first place?
- Do you treat rotten wood decking?
- Do you treat window sill rot?
- Do you treat wood beam rot?
- How would you treat rotting floorboards?
- Do you sub contract the work out and can I trust the workmen who do it?
What causes timbers to rot?
Excessive moisture, from a flood, leak or defective guttering, for example.
Rot can also occur when timbers are in contact with damp walls due to lack of ventilation or lack of an effective damp proof course, for instance.
It is usually found in hidden unventilated voids where timbers are present.
What is the difference between wet rot and dry rot?
Wet rot stays localised to the source of moisture and the timber is wet in appearance.
It will also show signs of shallow cuboidal cracking on the timber surface.
Dry rot can grow far from the source of the moisture with evidence of a white/grey coloured growth over the timber.
There are often signs of a white mushroom-like growth, known as a fruiting body, which expels reddish/brown spore dust into the surrounding area.
The timber shows signs of larger cuboidal cracks more deep-seated than that of wet rot.
What is dry rot and how is it caused?
Dry rot is a wood destroying-fungus which feeds on moisture in timbers.
Dry rot spores, which are always present in the atmosphere, land on timber, and in the correct environmental conditions will germinate and produce hyphae (fine strands of fungal growth).
These hyphae strands join together to form a mass called Mycelium which can vary in colour from grey to pure white, and these strands grow into and across the damp wood. It can also grow into materials such as plaster, mortars, bricks etc.
When the growth is advanced a fruiting body (Sporophore) may develop. This fruiting body takes the form of a “fleshy pancake”, the surface of which is orange/ochre coloured. A large numbers of spores generate from the centre of the fruiting body, under still conditions, and form the red “dust” often visible where there is a significant attack of dry rot.
Can wet rot develop into dry rot?
No, they are different types of rot, although you can have both in close proximity and dry rot can develop on timbers previously affected by wet rot, given the right conditions.
Why is dry rot so called, if it is caused by moisture and / or water?
Once established the white or grey strands extract a substance called lignin from the timber leaving the affected wood in a DRY friable condition.
How much will it cost to treat rot and will you give me a fixed price quotation for the work?
It is not possible to provide any cost of treatment until the full extent of the problem is identified.
To do this, we would have to carry out a full survey before we could provide a quotation.
We do provide a fixed price quotation for all identified and listed works, as stated in our report.
However, as dry rot can spread to other areas not evident at the time of inspection, we recommend a full exposure survey be carried out to all adjoining areas to avoid unforeseen additional works and costs.
What can I expect to happen if I don't have the rot treated?
The longer rot is left untreated, the further the decay can extend, causing additional disruption and increased costs when the problem is addressed.
Is wet rot more common than dry rot?
Wet rot is more common than dry rot in the UK, although there is limited data on how much more common it is.
I think I have dry rot in my property. How would you carry out treatments?
In general, we may have to remove the affected floor and joinery timbers, sterilise the masonry and then replace the joists, floorboards, skirting boards etc. However, every property is different and therefore so is every specification, as many factors have to be taken into account such as the severity of the attack and how easy it is to gain access to carry out the dry rot treatment.
Will I have to move out during treatments?
This will depend on the extent of the damage, but vacating the property is uncommon.
Can dry rot cause health problems?
For dry rot to exist there will be obvious damp conditions with the possibility of excessive spore dust. You should consult your own GP if you have any medical conditions or concerns.
Would I be covered under my home insurance?
Not usually, but you would need to check your own policy details. We can provide you with a quotation for Rentokil insurance, to protect your property in the future against the risk of dry rot. We can also provide you with a quotation for woodworm, rising damp and cavity wall tie insurance.
How can you prevent rot in the first place?
Good building maintenance is essential, including keeping the property watertight, free from damp and rectifying defects as soon as they become apparent.
Do you treat rotten wood decking?
No. It is generally cheaper to replace wood decking. Normally decking is pre-treated timber and should just need regular staining to keep in a good condition.
Do you treat window sill rot?
Rot in the window sill is usually wet rot, caused by the lack of maintenance (painting).
If the window frame is particularly large, a repair can be done by splicing in a section of sill.
For most windows, it is more cost effective to replace the frame.
You should paint the frame regularly, ideally every 3 years or at least every 5 years. Ensure all cracks are filled prior to painting.
Do you treat wood beam rot?
Yes, we can.
Depending on where the beams are situated, we would cut out decayed timber and either bolt on or resin fix new sections of timber.
We would also treat the remaining section of the timber.
How would you treat rotting floorboards?
Firstly, we would need to identify the cause of the decay and rectify it.
If the floorboards are rotten, they would need to be replaced and any new floorboards would be treated to protect them from rot in the future.
Do you sub contract the work out and can I trust the workmen who do it?
We employ our own qualified joiners who will carry out the work, and most have either City and Guilds or NVQ Level II. Many of our technicians have got the benefit of being CSCS certified (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) and have countless years experience in the treatment industry.
