Information about Dry Rot
When it comes to rot in buildings, there are two kinds - Dry Rot (actually a kind of fungus Serpula lacrymans) and Wet Rot. Both are capable of causing structural damage, but dry rot is the more serious of the two.
Dry rot acts by attacking the timber in structures. It spreads by digesting the very timber that is integral to the building. It is particularly nasty as it is able to proliferate without a great amount of moisture (unlike wet rot) as it gains moisture through the timber itself! Once it spreads sufficiently, dry rot is capable of rendering a building structurally unsound.
What causes Dry Rot?
Much like bacteria in our gut, dry rot spores are in the atmosphere, but only cause a problem given certain conditions. In the case of Dry Rot, these perfect conditions involve damp timber (only 20% moisture content is sufficient). If timber does have this level of moisture it points to a building defect of some kind. The most common faults are:
- Penetrating damp problems
- Inadequate ventilation
- Broken guttering or downpipes
- Rising damp
You can see why treating rising damp and penetrating damp is so important!
What should you do if you think you have Dry Rot?
You should definitely get in touch for a survey as prompt treatment is imperative. If it is not spotted and treated early on, replacement of structural timber may be necessary, which can get very expensive.
What should you do if you suspect Dry Rot?
Damp 2 Dry are blessed with over 40 years of collective experience in treating Dry Rot and one of our fully trained surveyors can pay you a visit to identify the extent of the issue and come up with a course of action to eradicate any Dry Rot, while also pinpointing the underlying cause.
Arrange a Dry Rot Survey
If you are in Yorkshire or the surrounding areas Damp 2 Dry will be delighted to help. The first step is to arrange an appointment here so that one of our expert surveyors can come and assess any damage and pinpoint the right remedial action. If you would like to talk to someone on the phone, our dedicated team are on hand to answer your questions.
Phone us on 01226 419027 or 07411 947324 or email us at info@damp2dry.co.uk
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