When considering any building, no matter how old, timber decay within the structure is usually as a result of rot. Wood rot comes in two predominant forms: wet and dry rot, and they both occur as a result of fungal decay in building timbers.
What is Wet Rot?
Wet rot is a type of parasite which grows in wet timber. It distorts the timber, making it swell and separating the fibres, which eventually leads to crumbling and loss of strength in the structure. Wet rot can expedite decay in timber, making it lose structural integrity and to eventually break. Wet rot in structural wood is due to increased exposure to moisture. It could be from faulty plumbing or penetrating damp, on the ‘wet’ side of the house. Wet rot is fungi that can spread and inflict damage on neighbouring timbers.
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What is the Difference Between Dry Rot and Wet Rot?
Dry rot can cause quick and extensive damage to structural timber as it circulates the affected property. The wet rot fungus, on the other hand, is more common but typically less serious, usually restricting the decay to where the timber becomes and remains wet. In the absence of fungi, wet and dry rot can be differentiated by relating the extent of damage (size and type of cracks) and the colour of the timber with the development of either type of rot.
What causes Wet Rot?
Certain environmental conditions dictate the appearance of wet rot spores on timber. The major cause of wet rot is moist timber. Moisture facilitates the growth of the Wet Rot fungus. As a result of this, indications of premature deterioration can be seen in the decaying wood.
The Dangers of Wet Rot in PortsladebySea
Wet rot is a devastating problem. It can destroy your home and ruin its value. If you have wet rot, it needs to be treated quickly, or it will continue to infect your house. A recent survey asked 2,038 London homeowners if they ever noticed wet rot in their homes, where the rot was found, and also if they had any success preventing a recurrence.
The results were appalling – over 20% of the respondents had noticed wet rot in some form or the other. Wet rot can attack timber flooring; making the property lose its structural integrity. Besides causing costly repairs, it could reduce your property’s value. A majority of insurance providers don’t provide policies to homes with signs of moisture ingress or damp build-up.
What are the Warning Signs of Wet Rot?
Signs of Wet Rot or the conditions needed by the fungus to become pervasive can vary depending on type cause of moisture with a property. Some noticeable signs include a musty smell, wallpaper peeling, the central heating boiler malfunctioning, and cookers not working properly. Some common locations for wet rot include underneath the kitchen sink, roof spaces/attics, and along external walls. It commonly affects older houses which have been built with timber frames and not modern timber species such as Sapele or Meranti. Timber that is found below ground level or reaching a one-floor level is susceptible to wet rot as well. Identifying it when it appears is the first step towards getting rid of wet or dry rot. If you notice any signs of wet rot infestation, then you should carry out a damp survey as soon as possible.
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How and When Should I Look for Wood Rot?
It should be an annual task, similar to spring cleaning to search your home for signs of damp or wood rot, and a good time to do it is during your pre-winter weatherproofing activities. The inspection requires a long-handle screwdriver as well as a powerful flashlight.
Examine the siding around and below the windows for signs of swelling or discolouration if your home has wood siding. Wood rot can be disguised by paint, make sure you poke the siding with the screwdriver to be sure that it is solid. If the wood has a spongy feeling and the surface gives in when you touch it, then you have wood rot. Use a decent flashlight to inspect the attic for discoloured wood. Transition to the screwdriver test if you notice any. Make sure you go over the roof decking base, the joints linking wood members at the top of the roof, and at the edges of the attic where slanting rafters transition into eaves. These are prime locations for wood rot to grow in the attic.
Use the flashlight to examine the wood in the crawl room or basement for discolouration around the border wood plate sitting directly on the concrete wall. Use the screwdriver test wherever necessary. Check the walls and floors to spot discolouration below sinks and catch water leakage around baths/tubs and the water heater.
How do we identify wet rot?
Identifying wet rot is not an easy feat, several forms of wet rot have different effects on timber. If you can push a knife all the way into painted timber, that is an obvious sign of rot. Our specialist damp proofing experts have years of experience and are trained to look for the following:
- Localised fungal growth on timber
- The soft, spongy feel of timber; the affected area appears darker than the surrounding timber.
- The soft and spongy texture of rotting timber; the affected region often looks darker than the other parts.
- That spongy, soft feel timber gets when affected by wet rot; the affected parts are darker than the other areas.
- The spongy, soft texture of rotten timber; the infested area is darker than the other parts.
- The springy feeling that is an indicator of wet rot; the affected area is often darker than others around it.
- Crumbling of affected dry timber into particles.
- Dry timber crumbling into particles.
- The crumbling of infested timber into dry particles.
- Dried-out timber disintegrating into particles.
- The disintegration of rot-eaten timber into particles.
- Shrinking timber
- Bleaching wood in window and door frames
- Flaky or damaged paint
- A musty, damp smell
What to Do After You Detect Wet Rot?
You need to engage the help of a damp expert when you notice wet rot. The source of moisture must be identified and blocked to avoid similar cases in the future. For more help on wet rot treatment, Sussex Damp Experts can help! Reach us on 01273 257 765 today.
Wet Rot and Damp Proofing in PortsladebySea
Your search for wet rot treatment and damp proofing services ends here! When you call us immediately you notice signs of damp or wet rot, we can fix the problem by putting a stop to the progression of the infestation; helping you avoid pricey repairs down the road and minimising health risks. Our qualified surveyors will help you identify the cause of the issue and the best steps to take in rectifying it.
Timber damp proofing is not a cosmetic treatment; it’s a maintenance strategy that’s designed to protect the timber from rot and decay. There are two ways to appropriately protect the timber.
Surface treatments are highly unreliable; they do not solve the problem and even end up escalating the issue. The only way out is to encapsulate the entire surface with a membrane, replace or treat the timber. If you need further information on wet rot treatment from one of our experts, call 01273 257 765 today.
Wet Rot Treatment Specialists in PortsladebySea
With 20 years experience tackling wet rot in PortsladebySea, we are leading specialists offering free, no-commitment cost estimates and site surveys to a wide range of property owners. Our wet rot experts will examine your property and come up with solutions to cut off the source of moisture ingress. Our experts apply advanced methods to tackle the progression of different types of wet rot in buildings.
Wet Rot Treatment in PortsladebySea
Typically, wet rot occurs only in locations where timber has been exposed to moisture and where the wood continues to be damp. We consider the source of the problem as well as the affected area during wet rot treatment. We examine the pathways moisture takes in reaching the timber and block them all off, eliminating the possibility of a repeat case. You should make sure wet rot treatment is handled by professionals to guarantee the best results. Delaying treatment can lead to a steeper cost of treatment. When you observe the development of fungi growth or hyphae strands, you are best off to engage the services of a specialist team of experts, such as Sussex Damp Experts.
We have the expertise to effectively treat wet rot. At Sussex Damp Experts, we quickly determine the source of the dampness and which areas have been most affected. Don’t wait till the timber starts falling off, call 01273 257 765 today or fill our contact form and we will reach out to you.
Our Wet Rot Treatment Process in PortsladebySea
The damage worsens the more you put off starting the treatment process. Treatment might only be required for a small area if you can detect the signs of fungal rot early enough. Severe cases where the rot has advanced across the breadth of timber could mean you will need major repair work or replacements for the timber beams. Wet rot treatment comprises various steps. The treatment process begins with an assessment of the source of the problem and eliminating exposure of the timber to moisture. We identify the source of moisture ingress including condensation and broken guttering, and we apply corrective measures to cut them off. Contractors or builders who do not have the required expertise in rot treatment often opt to replace the affected wood. Chemical Preservatives are then applied to the area in question after replacement. This can only fail. If you are unsure about the presence of wet rot in your building, no worries! Sussex Damp Experts is always ready to help you get rid of it and save your timber.
What happens to Wet Rot if left untreated?
If you ignore wet rot treatment, your property’s structural timber will ultimately weaken and, in some cases, even pose a health risk to the inhabitants. When wet rot sets in, the timber loses its strength and will break if you poke it with a sharp object. An extreme result means that structural timbers lose their integrity over time. In a worst-case scenario, this means your property could be condemned. Call Sussex Damp Experts on 01273 257 765 to get your treatment project started today.
What is the cost of Wet Rot Treatment in PortsladebySea?
Rot has devastating effects on properties. Repair and damp proofing costs will be different for each project based on the type and level of damage inflicted on the wood. However, don’t let it deter you. We are always willing to provide our wet rot treatment services in PortsladebySea at an affordable cost for all our clients. We advise you on the right decisions for the wellbeing of your family and your home.
How to prevent wet rot?
Wood should preferably be kept dry at all times to avoid decaying. Wood hardeners for use on timber at risk of being affected by wet rot are also an effective measure. The wood gains strength after the hardener soaks into it. The areas in a building that are most susceptible to damp include window sills and boxes, timbers touching stonework without being subjected to damp proofing treatment such as sealant and fungicide applications.
Talk to Our Wet Rot Treatment Experts Today!
If you want to speak to our experts for further information on wet rot treatment, call 01273 257 765 today and let Sussex Damp Experts help.
FAQ
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