Wet & Dry Rot
DRY ROT
Dry Rot, otherwise known as “Serpula Lacrymans” is a term given to a timber destroying fungus which is caused by unprotected timber becoming damp. Dry rot is a very severe timber condition that frequently damages timbers that are hiding away from view/sight, behind wall fabric or below floors. Dry rot is a prominent problem across properties in the United Kingdom. Dry rot can occur in a property when unprotected or untreated timber has become damp. Timber is at risk of a fungal attack if the moist content of the timber exceeds 20%. It is by far the most dangerous and destructive of the wood destroying fungi, it can completely destroy sound wood reducing it to a dry and brittle state easily crumbled by hand.
CAUSES OF DRY ROT
- Lower ground level damp
- Rising damp
- Condensation
- Penetrating dampness through walls/chimneys and roof coverings
- Plumbing leaks
IDENTIFYING DRY ROT
- Rust red coloured spore dust regularly seen around fruiting bodies
- A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow often develops under less humid conditions
- Active decay produces a musty, damp odour / damp musty smell
HOW TO TREAT DRY ROT
- Damp issues in the property need to be solved before any treatment can be made, this is because dry rot treatments will become ineffective if the timber becomes damp again which will effectively lead to the infection.
WET ROT
Wet Rot, sometimes referred to as cellar fungus, is a wood destroying fungi that attacks timber/wood in order to obtain food to preserve growth by producing a generation of spores which proliferate to attack more timber. If left untreated, it will destroy the structural strength of timber. Wet rot happens when a large amount of moisture exists in timber over time which leads to the softening of the timber.
The minimum level for wet rot is generally considered to be 30% WME and the optimum is between 50 and 60%. Timbers with a WME of 20% or less are not at risk of wet rot infections.
IDENTIFYING WET ROT
- Signs of dark, damp wood/timber
- Dry timber that is easily cracked and crumbles into fine particles.
- A damp, musty smell
TREATMENT
To treat wet rot, we must repair the source of the moisture ingress and dry out the affected timbers. The treatment consists of applying fungicidal paste spread onto the surface or in case of larger timbers, injected into the centre. Once the paste has been applied, a skin forms which prevents the evaporation of the solvent ensuring maximum penetration of the active ingredients.
