Guildford, Godalming, Dorking and Farnham have some of Surrey’s finest period homes, with timber floors, panelling, staircases and roof structures. Where damp gets into these buildings, dry rot can follow.
What dry rot needs
Dry rot needs damp timber, still air and a stable temperature. Cellars, under-floor voids, behind panelling and in roof spaces near leaks are classic locations. Older Surrey homes near the River Wey, or with suspended floors and blocked ventilation, can provide all three.
Early warning signs
- A damp, mushroomy smell
- Skirting boards or floors that feel soft or have shrunk away from walls
- Paint or panelling that cracks in a cuboidal pattern
- White, cotton-wool-like growth or grey strands in damp corners
- Rusty-red spore dust collecting on surfaces
Common causes in period homes
- Leaking gutters, valleys and downpipes
- Bridged or failed damp proof courses
- Blocked air bricks beneath timber floors
- Plumbing leaks hidden under floors or behind panelling
Treatment
Dry rot treatment starts with stopping the moisture. The full extent of the outbreak is traced, affected timber is removed and replaced, and surrounding areas are treated where needed. In historic buildings, repairs should save as much original fabric as possible.
We carried out dry rot restoration at the historic chapel in Weybridge. See dry rot treatment in Surrey.
