Do I Have Dry Rot or Wet Rot in My Building?

As a specialist damp proofer in Hastings, one of the most frequent questions we get here at B P Preservations is whether a client’s property is affected by dry or wet rot. While both are forms of fungal decay, and both can cause lasting, serious damage to properties, identifying which is which is key to treating and preventing a reoccurrence of the problem. Here, we’ll run through a few of the differences.

The Differences Between Dry and Wet Rot

Both types of rot are common and can cause devastating structural damage to buildings if left untreated for long periods, but dry rot is the more destructive of the two. One of the main reasons for this is that dry rot spreads, whereas wet rot is restricted to particular areas where the timber is damp. Unfortunately, some of the indicators are very similar, which is where the confusion often arises. This is why you need a professional damp specialist to identify what’s afflicting your building. They can then pursue the right course of damp treatment to resolve it satisfactorily.

Signs You Have Dry Rot

Dry rot thrives in damp and dark places, which means you may not notice visible signs unless you’re alert to them and check areas like the loft, under the stairs and so on. Things to look out for include a musty, damp smell of mushrooms in the air. As dry rot typically starts and spreads in timber, check door frames, skirting boards and flooring. Wooden floors below floor coverings can start to feel spongy underfoot, wood in door frames and skirting boards may start to look warped or shrunken and exposed wood can begin to develop cuboidal shaped cracks. If the problem is at an advanced stage, you may notice a cottonwool like substance on wood surfaces, although very often this will be concealed in dark, humid areas like under floorboards and in lofts.

Left unresolved, you will eventually see orange coloured pancake-like funguses and red spore dust in the affected area. If you spot any of these signs, call in a damp expert as soon as possible, because the longer you leave it, the harder and more expensive the problem will be to treat.

Signs of Wet Rot

Again, wet rot often hides in dark, poorly ventilated areas, so one of the first things you may notice is a damp, musty smell in particular areas of the building. There may be dark brown staining on timbers and some parts may feel damp and cold to the touch. Timbers like floorboards and skirting boards may show signs of splitting and longitudinal cracks running along the grain, and the wood will collapse inward when prodded with a screwdriver. You may also see patches of fungus developing in certain areas, but also look out for areas where paint is damaged and flaky or looks bleached compared to the surrounding wood.

Call in the Experts

If you notice any of these signs, look for a company in your area that offers free damp surveys. They will come and professionally assess the condition of the property, tell you which form of rot you have and offer you recommendations on how to remedy it. Very often, this will include removing the sources of damp, carrying out wood restoration in affected areas and applying wood preservation measures to protect timbers from further decay.

In Hastings, wider Sussex, Surrey or Kent, you can call B P Preservations for expert damp services. We also handle woodworm infestations, rising damp treatments and offer a range of other property services including basement waterproofing through tanking, wall tie replacements, and countering the effects of storm damage on properties.