Dry Rot Treatment in Woolwich, London

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What is dry rot?

Dry rot is a general term for Wood-decay fungus. As Mycelium eats wood, dry rot yields dust particles, decomposition of wood and dry rot thrive while wood is cracked by Sporocarp (fungi). Dry rot fungal spores need an adequate place to land and begin their colonies before they disperse through the underlying wood. Many of these spores can be found in soil and old wood already affected by dry rot.

This means wood can get damp and stay damp for considerable periods of time below 15% relative humidity. Dry Rot causes significantly greater damage than Wet rot, you may be shocked to hear that dry rot fungus can attack the structural timber in your property whilst remaining undetected. It normally occurs where you are not looking. It could be under the plaster, under your floorboard, or in your loft. This is why it’s essential to know the signs and symptoms of dry rot and to get it treated quickly.

What is the difference between dry rot and wet rot?

Dry rot and wet rot are two different kinds of fungus that can destroy wood if left untreated. The biggest difference between wet and dry rot is the significant moisture content that wet rot needs to spread. Another significant difference to be aware of is that wet rot can spread across larger areas faster. That’s right because timber based products never come into contact with mycelium – the fungus that causes Dry Rot to form. Dry rot is the greatest danger when it comes to timber damage, it spreads throughout buildings, frequently hidden by wallpaper or carpets. Wet rot fungus, on the other hand, occurs more often but is less serious, usually, the decay is confined to areas where the timber becomes and remains wet.

What are the causes of dry rot?

Many types of fungi lead to dry rot. In Woolwich, the most common is Serpula Lacrymans. If it is not managed on time, it will grow and spread throughout your home causing structural damage. Structural issues with the timber will seriously compromise your houses structural integrity. Dry rot hits when you have too much moisture in your timber. This attracts the fungus that is going to use this moisture to produce nutrients. “Dry rot” is used to distinguish “wet wood” from “dry wood rot.”

Wet wood feeds on dry rot. While fungal spores need over 30% wetness to generate hyphae after this, these hyphae only need 20% wetness to survive. These threads can turn into fungal bodies called mycelia, which can also extend to find more wood in stone and brick. H2O, Hemicellulose and cellulose can be stripped from the timber by this fungus, leaving behind a fragile structure of the original wood. A specialist survey will be needed, this specialist survey can help you identify the fungus that is causing your timber decay. It’s important to note that not all treatments will work for every case of nicotine damage.

The dangers of dry rot in Woolwich

Dry Rot Effect on your Property

The greatest issue with dry rot is that it can easily attack the structural integrity of your house. Dry Rot is a fungus that attacks timber by breaking it down, causing timber to crumble. Extreme conditions may cause your home or appliances to fail. Dry rot causes the wood to become brittle and fall apart when it gets wet, but can only travel across brick or stone. Hence, regular checks are essential.

Dry rot is a ravaging condition that affects your home and must be addressed immediately. When you know a dry rot problem is imminent, call in the experts at Dry Rot Experts and Rescue. If you think you might have a problem with dry rot, get a survey from Southern Damp Proofing today.

Dry Rot Effect on Your personal health

It’s not the disease that causes dry rot that is dangerous. Regrettably, if dry rot does occur, the structural damage may be extensive to your health. If you suffer from respiratory problems, asthma or allergies and don’t have a smoke alarm, then this guide is for you.

What are the Warning Signs of Dry Rot?

Discovering dry rot early is essential to preventing devastating and costly damage. A full assessment is recommended if you experience any of the following signs/symptoms.

The beginning of the dry rot cycle

The spores are carried by wind. They only need a small place to come inside and will slowly but surely chew holes through the wood. When the wood has enough moisture, it allows fungal spores of Armillaria mellea to germinate and create hyphae, if the timber is giving them enough nutrients to do so. As these hyphae expand and eat, they may enter a spider web-like array called mycelium. Mycelium ranges in different colors such as light gray or solid white. Mycelium is mostly found between property’s bricks, mortar and plaster and can also try and spread into timber greatly.

Your timber is damaged.

You will see that the core of your timber has become soft and dry. This may at times make your wood fall. You may observe the dry rot changing the color of your timber. Specifically, dry rot can cause something called cuboidal cracking. Cuboidal cracking occurs when the wood breaks into cubes that are about 50 mm in width. The distinctive symptom of white rot in wood is a creamy colour to the wood due to a white fungal growth called “hyphae”. Also known as dry rot, hyphae is a common symptom of dry rot.

Your timber will smell.

If your wood is infected by dry rot, it will have a different, fungal smell. This can occur even if you can’t see a dry rot outbreak. However, it may be that there is just a smell rather than rot.

Your timber will have fungus bodies on it.

The most noticeable stage of dry rot is the final stage. Fruiting bodies like Mushroom can start to attach themselves to your wood. As the timber dries out, the fungus inside can no longer feed off the timber, in order to survive, it pumps its spores out to infect more wood.

Damp Proofing Can Help Prevent

  • Rising / Penetrating Damp
  • Ingress of Water
  • Salt Crystallization
  • Plaster Breakdown
  • Damp Staining
  • Wet Rot / Dry Rot

Your timber will have spore dust.

Spores related to dry rot do not just occur in timber affected by dry rot. If you are seeing splotches of rusty coloured dust accompanying decomposed spores, it could be a sign of dry rot. In the final cycle of the dry rot, fertile bodies deliver this spore dust.

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Dry Rot Treatment in Woolwich

Only when the moisture is over 20% will a dry rot invasion take place. The first prevention step to eradicating the presence of the fungus is the monitoring of moisture levels in your property. Once you have the moisture levels under control. For your dry rot treatment, meet a professional.

Southern Damp Proofing can help you with the removal of infected timber and any remedial work. Affected timber removal should be handled by a professional. Similarly, a professional damp proofing expert will know the exact treatment required. While some treatments are instilled into the timber, others on the timber’s surface. There are a lot of options on preventive treatment. Such chemicals require precise concentrations and can have adverse side effects if mistakenly inhaled or injected.

A professional can determine if your timber needs Boron rods. Boron is a radioactive compound, which is why our damp proofing experts all wear the protective clothing. Our damp proofing team will find and fix your leaks and resolve any dry rot damage. Dry rots can be a severe issue and need to be treated right away. In order to protect a wooden structure, it’s critical to treat dry rot immediately. Our Southern Damp Proofing team will work with you to implement a suitable treatment that addresses your problem effectively and efficiently. Please don’t waste time. If you believe you have a problem with dry rot, call 020 7971 1329 for a free survey, and successful care today.

How can you prevent dry rot damage in Woolwich?

The first treatment phase is the removal of dry rot. A rot infestation is caused by water penetrating the timber and it’s inability to dry out, either due to poor ventilation or air-tight construction. Here are some of the behaviors that would prohibit them from forming: Always ensure there are no leaks in your property. Make available sufficient ventilation.

Properly ventilate and insulate your attic. Correctly ventilate crawl spaces. To minimize ground moisture, seal basement and crawlspace floors Check all flickering walls and roofs to ensure that the water is adequately directed. Stay out of sinks and drains. Check for plumbing/heating leaks if using a “wet” system. Owing to the humid conditions needed for dry rot fungus to be fed and germinated, the easiest way to reduce the possibility of dry rot is to decrease moisture levels. For example, if you have a pipe that is leaking, plugging the leak can help prevent dry rot.

Speak to a Dry Rot specialist in Woolwich

We are equipped to deal with any damp proofing or dry rot problems affecting your property or home. We will perform a full damp survey of the property and give you a free estimate before we start any work.

Over the years, we have helped thousands of Woolwich homeowners with their damp problems, and we can help you too. For a free survey and quote, call us on 020 7971 1329. An expert will be able to assess your dry rot problem. This helps us to offer unbiased guidance and advice about the sort of care you will require. We have a complete list of expert surveyors who carry out all types of surveys and assessments, from pre-purchase surveys to full structural repairs.

Dry rot is very destructive and can quickly spread through a home causing an irreversible amount of damage to the entire house, it is essential to reach us immediately. The South Damp Proofing services will assist you in solving your dry rot dilemma by e-mail or calling the phone 020 7971 1329.

FAQ’s

Where can dry rot grow?

In any wood with a high level of moisture, dry rot can develop. As it can look like other problems at its early stages, it is important to seek advice as soon as possible. Dry rot can completely destroy a wood structure no matter the age. This reason is because it is affected by moisture and wetness that can take place anywhere.   Dry rot can be caused by leaks or weather, meaning the type of property does not affect it.

How can I confirm that I have dry rot?

It’s better to conduct a survey if you know your timber is having trouble and is vulnerable to moisture. After some time, fruiting bodies and mycelium will appear in the drive rot life-cycle.

Is dry rot serious?

It can cause long-term damage to the building if dry rot is left unchecked because it is one of the most severe forms of moisture that can manifest in property.

If dry rot is left unchecked what will happen?

Dry rot is one of the most severe forms of moisture that can show itself in the property and will eventually cause irreversible damage to the building if left untreated. Often, it doesn’t come to light until the harm is done because of the areas where the concern is likely to be the appearance of dry rot. How do I manage dry not After the reason your timber moist is identified, this can be fixed. If the cause of your timber moisture is on the surface, a different solution shall be provided.

Will dry rot stretch?

Yes, because the living fungus causes dry rot.   This implies that if the spring of the nutrient is depleted, there will be a new source.

 

How wide is Dry Rot able to spread?

Anywhere with proper environment conditions you can have dry rot spores spread. The reason is, they emerged in the atmosphere. If your timber has a moisture content of around 20%, and if it is in the open air, these conditions are attractive to dry rot fungus. This also means that groups of fungus can spread across many materials. If dry rot spreads through masonry and plaster, and if more wood is reached to feed off where the timber is wet. It will stretch more. Proper temperature, oxygen, moisture, food source and drive rot spores are the five things dry rot fungus needs to survive.   Most of this is present in any home in the UK in some capacity.

How do I discover how far Dry Rot has spread?

If you have traced the dry rot fungus quickly or not, a professional will identify the source of the problem. They will be capable of finding the bacteria in the different masonry and plaster from which it has spread.

Can my dry rot problem be treated effectively by you?

Our specialist qualified surveyors and consultants can address and rectified, any dry rot problem and ensure that your  timber is secured for the future.

Should I restore or replace dry rot?

It is possible to repair certain levels of dry rot, but it is not recommended if the damaged areas provide the home with structural integrity, such as beams and joints, or even flooring for that matter. In those cases, instead of repairing it, you should replace the wood. If you restore or rebuild the wood, it is better if you have eliminated the conditions that caused the rot to flourish in the first place or risked it coming back. Check for roof leaks, broken gutters or downspouts, plumbing leaks and/or inadequate ventilation to find the source of moisture accumulation. You can consult an expert to assist you trace and fix the problem.

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