Identifying Dry Rot

Step 1.

In the earliest stages, dry rot will look like off-white, cottony sheets on brickwork and timber. It may have a yellowish tinge where exposed to direct light.

Step 2.

Some mushroom-like bodies may grow over surfaces and finishes that are concealing dry-rotting timber, such as plaster or paint. Often, they can be the first visible signs of dry rot.

Step 3.

Inspect timbers for long, deep cracks running across the grain. These cracks may also evidence the off-white fibers of the fungus.

Step 4.

Where possible, apply direct pressure to wood which you suspect to be suffering from dry rot. Timber decaying from dry rot will buckle under pressure, often crumbling under even slight touches.

Identifying Wet Rot

 

Step 1.

Check for wet rot in areas typically vulnerable to moisture, such as those which may be exposed to the most moisture or that are nearest to the ground or other areas where water collects.

Step 2.

Paint and finishes may look sound while concealing rotting wood underneath. Professional builders and practiced do-it-yourselfers may use a thin-bladed knife to press into the timber, applying only very slight pressure. The knife should not penetrate very deeply at all. Deep penetration is a sign of rot.

Step 3.

Feel the wood in question. Timber affected by wet rot will feel spongy, even despite finishes and paint, and will look darker than timber unaffected by rot.

Ways to Prevent Wood Rot 

Keep it painted.

Keeping your house painted is the easiest way to keep the water out. Paint is a great layer of protection to help the surfaces of your house shed water and dirt. Though it may get wet, the paint keeps the water (and fungus) from attacking the underlying wood.

No standing water.

If any part of your house gets standing water after a rain storm, then that area is much more likely to rot. Standing water will find its way into joints and cracks in the paint and seep into the wood giving rise to perfect conditions for rot. Redesign these elements to allow water to shed off of them.

Allow for air.

Good airflow helps everything dry out faster, and the faster things dry, the less chance of rot. Trim back shrubs and trees from your house so that there is a enough room for some airflow between the two. Wet shrubs directly against siding are a major cause of rot on many houses.

If you can keep it dry, you’re leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of us. Yes, the cause of rot is fungus, but if you focus your energies on keeping the exterior surfaces of your house dry you’ll stop it in its tracks. And preventing rot is a lot easier than stopping it once it really gets rolling.

We hope these tips will help prevent wood rot in your home. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact us here at Home Remedy.