Dry Rot & Wet Rot Treatment

Dry Rot and Wet Rot are both forms of fungal decay. All timber with a moisture content of more than 20 percent will decay and the resulting fungal growths can cause a great deal of damage.

Dry Rot is by far the most destructive type of growth. Although it can only grow when it has moisture, the fungus forms a mass whose strands can spread over two metres. The strands are resistant to drying out and conduct water to further parts of the growing fungus.

Dry Rot can be identified by a brownish dust which can be traced to a mushroom like growth. It can remain active for years and if left untreated can lead to structural collapse. The source of the infestation must be identified and treated or the fungus will quickly re-establish itself.

Wet Rot is often mistaken for Dry Rot but it can only occur in excessively damp conditions and does not have the same secretive qualities as Dry Rot.

With all forms of rot, it is vital to identify the source of damp and eradicate it. There are also other types of fungal decay, all of which have the same cause and are similarly treatable.

There are a number of treatments available depending on the type and severity of the fungal decay, including spraying, pasting and replacing rotten wood with pre-treated timber.