Dry Rot Treatment in Kent

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What is dry rot?

Dry rot is the general word used 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 spores need a place to land and start a colony before expanding from the underneath wood. A lot of these spores are present in soil and old wood already infected by dry rot.

It also means that dry rot cannot live in so-called “humidified” lumber that is kept at 15% moisture with a wetted surface. While Dry Rot can be harder to spot, it is potentially more damaging than wet rot. It usually happens where you are not looking It could be under the plaster, under your floorboard, or in your loft. As a homeowner, it’s a good idea to understand the telltale signs of dry rot so you can act fast.

What is the difference between dry rot and wet rot?

Dry rot and wet rot are different because they have different species. The biggest difference between wet and dry rot is the significant moisture content that wet rot needs to spread. Wet rot spreads more quickly than dry rot, and is a much more destructive force. This is because it uses the capillaries within timber rather than mycelium that typically forms the basis of a Dry Rot infestation. Dry rot is extremely destructive and spreads quickly through a house, even retaining its ruinous effects if the room has been previously treated for damp or wet rot. Wet rot can occur on drier timber, but it generally spreads further when it becomes wet.

What are the causes of dry rot?

A number of fungi cause dry rot. In Kent, the most common is Serpula Lacrymans. it can spread from your home’s walls to the floors, and even the plaster is not fixed soon enough. Blocking up your timber may save on heating/cooling costs, but it may also affect the structural integrity of your entire house. 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. The term “dry rot” is used to distinguish between “dry wood rot” and “wet wood.”

Wet wood grazes on a dry rot. In order to develop spore-bearing structures, the fungal spores need over 30% dampness to generate hyphae after this, however these hyphae merely need 20% dampness to last. These threads can turn into fungal bodies called mycelia, which can also extend to find more wood in stone and brick. The wood fibers (cellulose) are rotten or broken down by the fungus, and the water is removed. You’ll need a private survey to tell if your wood deterioration is caused by dry rot or another kind of fungus. This is important as the remedies for these damages can vary based on the actual cause.

The dangers of dry rot in Kent

Dry Rot Effect on your Property

Dry rot spreads so fast it can possibly cause you to lose your house integrity. Dry Rot is a fungus that attacks timber by breaking it down, causing timber to crumble. In serious circumstances, it can cause various parts of your house to fall apart. Dry rot causes the wood to become brittle and fall apart when it gets wet, but can only travel across brick or stone. This is why regular checks are highly essential.

Dry rot is a ravaging condition that affects your home and must be addressed immediately. When fungus manifests, you should call a Dry Rot Expert immediately to avoid an infestation and deal with the occurring damage quickly. 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

The fungus that causes dry rot is not harmful. Regrettably, if dry rot does occur, the structural damage may be extensive to your health. The pollution could cause illness and even death for children, old people and people with conditions like asthma.

What are the Warning Signs of Dry Rot?

The earlier you discover dry rot, the less time and money you’ll need to spend treating it and initiating remedial works. A full assessment is recommended if you experience any of the following signs/symptoms.

The beginning of the dry rot cycle

Spores of dry rot are transported by the wind. They may be nocturnal but they will also feed on timber during the day if there are carried onto timber. When they feed on it, they will then 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 might be light gray or solid white. They can even work their way into your property’s foundations and spread into the mortar, bricks and plaster to find new timber.

Your timber is damaged.

When dry rot is affecting your timber, it will become brittle and dry. This may at times make your wood fall. The first sign of dry rot is darkening of the wood. Scientists have discovered that dry rot can lead to something called cuboidal cracking. The Cuboidal Cracking is a natural timber feature that affects all timber species and can break the timber up to 50 mm width. The fungal deterioration will also spread further into the wood, causing hyphae the white fungal growth. Hyphae can look like cobwebs and is a common symptom of dry rot.

Your timber will smell.

If your timber is affected by dry rot, it will have a distinct, fungal, dank and musty odour. Dry rot is often not noticed until it has damaged structural elements. Just because there is a smell, however, does not mean that dry rot is present.

Your timber will have fungus bodies on it.

Dry rot is the most noticeable kind of wood rot and one of the final stages of fungal attack. Fruiting bodies like Mushroom can start to attach themselves to your wood. They happen when dry rot can’t feed on the timber anymore, and so the fungus needs to pump spores out instead.

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. Fruiting bodies yield spore dust in the last phase of the dry rot cycle.

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Dry Rot Treatment in Kent

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. Then the moisture levels will be under your control. Consult a professional for a proper treatment of your dry rot.

For the removal of infected timber and any remedial work, you can rely on Southern Damp Proofing . Infected timber removal is the work of a professional. The required treatment lies on the knowledge of a dam proofing expert. While some treatments are instilled into the timber, others on the timber’s surface. There are a lot of options on preventive treatment. These chemicals require specific concentrations and can have unpleasant side effects if inhaled or injected accidentally.

An expert can insert into your timber Boron rods. Boron is a radioactive compound, which is why our damp proofing experts all wear the protective clothing. Through our damp proofing expert team, we will be able to identify some dry rot problems and determine the seriousness of the problem. Dry rots are a serious problem and can lead to serious issues if left untreated. If dry rot is not treated promptly, it can spread across your property and do real harm. Our high-performance products and extensive experience allow us to efficiently address your damp proofing problems.* Please don’t be late Call 020 7971 1329 for today’s free survey and successful care if you suspect you have a problem with dry rot.

How can you prevent dry rot damage in Kent?

The first step of treating dry rot is prevention. Any wooded areas of the house that traps enough water and is subject to humidity/moisture ingress can result in a dry rot infestation. Here are some of the behaviors that would prohibit them from forming: It is your responsibility to ensure that there are no leaks in your house. Provide adequate, proper ventilation.

Ventilate the attic correctly and wrap it. Correctly ventilate crawl spaces. Waterproof the exterior of your home by sealing the basement and crawlspace floors with our durable, waterproof sealers. Check all flashing to make sure there are no leaks and water directed properly. Maintain clear sinks and downspouts. It’s a very good idea to check your pipes and heating system for leaks when 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 Kent

We are equipped to deal with any damp proofing or dry rot problems affecting your property or home. We’ll do a full steam survey of the property and give you a free estimation before we start any work.

Over the years, with their damp concerns, we have helped thousands of Kent homeowners, and we will support you too. Call us now to book a free survey and quote 0207 9711329. A qualified Plasterboard dry rot expert will diagnose your home to determine what the extent of the infestation is This helps us to offer unbiased guidance and advice about the sort of care you will require. All of our surveyors are qualified and can identify everything, including the solution, from Dry Rot to moisture input, and provide you with an affordable price for any remedial work.

Dry rot gets worse over time by its nature, it is important to contact us immediately if you think you have a problem. Southern Damp Proofing will be able to help you no matter what the nature of your damp issue is, email or call us on 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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