Damp Proofing
Basement Damp Proofing
Water Damage
Condensation Control
Dry Rot Treatment
WOODWORM & WET ROT
CAVITY Wall Ties
Property Maintenance
Waterproofing And Tanking
Structural RepairsTapco HomeDry Dry Rot Treatment Chiddingfold
We are long term members of Trust Mark and a member of the BWA. CHAS accredited contractor. In addition, all of our surveyors are trained to the high standards of the PCA (Property Care Association).
Dry Rot Specialist In Chiddingfold
Spotted dry rot in your home? Don’t ignore this problem as it could spread and cause widespread structural damage. At the first signs of dry rot in Chiddingfold, call Tapco Homedry to help get this problem under control.
How to spot dry rot in your home
If you are worried about dry rot in your home in Chiddingfold, it’s important to be aware of the early signs. It’s often a distinct smell that is the first clue that you have a dry rot problem. Look out for a musty or earthy odour in your home and use this as a sign to investigate further.
Another common sign of dry rot is a furry white growth on the affected wood. As this spreads, a rusty orange bloom will emerge and this will spread spores throughout your home on air currents. The spores often look like brick dust.
Once the damage is done, the wood left behind will be brittle and will crumble easily between your fingers. The wood will have a telltale cuboidal cracking structure which means that it will break down into small cube shapes.
What is dry rot?
Dry rot is the common name given to a type of fungal infestation that affects wood in homes. The Serpula lacrymans fungus is found on the forest floor where it plays an essential role in clearing away and breaking down rotten wood from fallen trees. Unfortunately, this type of fungus can also find its way into your home where it can cause widespread structural damage.
Just like on the forest floor where this fungus helps to digest damp wood that has reached the end of its life, it can also digest damp wood in your home. This is why dry rot is nearly always seen alongside a damp problem. It will be essential to address both in order to stop the spread and return of the dry rot fungus.
Wood digested by this fungus will have a darker appearance than unaffected wood. It will also be left very dry and brittle, with no structural integrity. It will crumble between your fingers, which could lead to collapse in parts of your home. It can impact areas like floorboards, stairs, door frames and joists. While it might be more common in older homes, new homes are not immune from this issue.
Is dry rot the same as wet rot?
No, while they might sound alike, they are actually caused by two different types of fungus. Both are incredibly damaging in homes and should be addressed with a sense of urgency. If you have dry rot, moisture levels will need to be around 20% while wet rot needs much higher moisture levels of around 50%.
An easy way to tell if you have wet rot or dry rot is to examine the wood left behind. If the wood is dark, brittle and dry, you have dry rot. But if the wood is soft and spongy, then you have a wet rot problem.
