What is Wet Rot?
Wet rot is a parasite that can be found in wet timber. It twists the timber, triggering swelling and fibre separation; leading to loss of structural strength and crumbling. Wet rot causes wood decay and loss of structural integrity, making the timber disintegrate. Wet rot in structural wood is due to increased exposure to moisture. This could be from the ‘wet’ side of the structure, through faulty plumbing or penetrating damp. Wet Rot is a fungus and will spread to neighbouring timbers, which in turn suffer damage.
What is the Difference Between Dry Rot and Wet Rot?
Dry rot triggers quick and extensive damage to structural timber as it spreads through the affected property. Meanwhile wet rot, despite being a more common occurrence, causes less damage; decay is typically restricted to the areas that remain wet on the timber. It is possible to differentiate between dry and wet rot by associating the extent of damage as well as the colour of the timber with the development of either type of rot.
What causes Wet Rot?
Certain environmental conditions influence the emergence of wet rot spores. The major cause of wet rot is moist timber. Moisture plays a major role in the appearance and progression of wet rot. Consequently, signs of damage become visible on the decaying timber.
The Dangers of Wet Rot in Orpington
Wet rot is a serious issue to deal with. It can destroy your property and reduce its value. If you have wet rot, it needs to be treated quickly, or it will continue to infect your house. A survey conducted on 2,038 property owners in London asked if they had ever had to deal with wet rot, where the affected area was, and if they were able to successfully prevent a recurrence.
Damp Proofing Can Help Prevent
- Rising / Penetrating Damp
- Ingress of Water
- Salt Crystallization
- Plaster Breakdown
- Damp Staining
- Wet Rot / Dry Rot
What are the Warning Signs of Wet Rot?
Signs of wet rot in timber, or the conditions necessary to accommodate the growth of the fungus, can vary depending on the cause and type of moisture it is exposed to. Common signs include a malfunctioning central heating boiler, musty smell, peeling wallpaper, and cookers not working properly. Some of the common areas where wet rot can be found include roof spaces and attics, underneath the kitchen sink, and along the external walls. It commonly affects older houses which have been built with timber frames and not modern timber species such as Sapele or Meranti. Timber from beneath the ground level up to one-floor level is also commonly affected by wet rot. The first step towards managing wet or dry rot is identifying it. If you believe that your house suffers from a wet rot infestation, then you should carry out a damp survey immediately.
Contact Southern Damp Proofing Now to Speak With an Expert
How and When Should I Look for Wood Rot?
It should be an annual task, similar to spring cleaning to search your home for signs of damp or wood rot, and a good time to do it is during your pre-winter weatherproofing activities. You will need a decent flashlight and a screwdriver, preferably one with a long handle.
Using the flashlight to detect discolouration around the perimeter wood plate that lies directly on the top of the concrete basement wall, inspect the wood members in a basement or crawl room (sill plate). With the screwdriver, inspect any discoloured regions. Inspect the floors and walls around baths/tubs, under sinks, and the water heater for any sign of discolouration or water leakage.
How do we identify wet rot?
- Localised fungal growth on timber
- The soft, spongy feel of timber; the affected area appears darker than the surrounding timber.
- The soft and spongy texture of rotting timber; the affected region often looks darker than the other parts.
- That spongy, soft feel timber gets when affected by wet rot; the affected parts are darker than the other areas.
- The spongy, soft texture of rotten timber; the infested area is darker than the other parts.
- The springy feeling that is an indicator of wet rot; the affected area is often darker than others around it.
- Crumbling of affected dry timber into particles.
- Dry timber crumbling into particles.
- The crumbling of infested timber into dry particles.
- Dried-out timber disintegrating into particles.
- The disintegration of rot-eaten timber into particles.
- Shrinking timber
- Bleaching wood in window and door frames
- Flaky or damaged paint
- A musty, damp smell
What to Do After You Detect Wet Rot?
You need to engage the help of a damp expert when you notice wet rot. The source of moisture must be identified and blocked to avoid similar cases in the future. For more information on treating wet rot, call 020 7971 1329 today to speak to our damp proofing experts.
Wet Rot and Damp Proofing in Orpington
Your search for wet rot treatment and damp proofing services ends here! Call Southern Damp Proofing if you see signs of damp or wet rot, fixing the problem immediately is crucial to avoiding the health risks and costly repair work which would be necessary if the damage is left to spread unchecked. Our professional surveyors will identify the root of the issue and recommend ways to eliminate it.
Contact Southern Damp Proofing Now to Speak With an Expert
Wet Rot Treatment Specialists in Orpington
With 20 years of experience offering damp proofing solutions, we are among Orpington’s premier wet rot experts, providing free, no-obligation surveys and cost estimates to domestic homeowners and commercial property owners. Our team of experts will visit your property and investigate the source of the wet rot and provide advice on the next steps to take to get rid of it. Our experts apply advanced methods to tackle the progression of different types of wet rot in buildings.
Wet Rot Treatment in Orpington
Wet rot commonly attacks areas that remain damp due to constant exposure to moisture. However, when we treat wet rot, we do not just fix the damage caused by it. The problem must be treated at its source. We eliminate the possibility of facing similar issues by identifying exactly how the moisture reaches the timber and blocking off all the access points. Treating rot should be left to expert professionals who can deliver a holistic solution. Delay in treatment results in pricey repair work down the line. When you observe the development of fungi growth or hyphae strands, you are best off to engage the services of a specialist team of experts, such as Southern Damp Proofing. We have the skills to get rid of wet rot. Southern Damp Proofing can help you save your timber, we quickly investigate the source of the humidity and which areas are under threat of decay. Don’t wait till the timber starts falling off, call 020 7971 1329 today or fill our contact form and we will reach out to you.
Our Wet Rot Treatment Process in Orpington
The same with other property-related repairs, the longer you wait, the worse it gets. Treatment might only be required for a small area if you can detect the signs of fungal rot early enough. Severe cases where the rot has advanced across the breadth of timber could mean you will need major repair work or replacements for the timber beams. Wet rot treatment involves several steps. The treatment process begins with an assessment of the source of the problem and eliminating exposure of the timber to moisture. We locate the source of water leakage, whether in the form of poor guttering or condensation among others and take the appropriate action to fix it. Builders and contractors without sufficient expertise in the matter tend to replace the decayed wood. This is usually followed by applying chemical preservatives to the damaged area. This can only fail. If you are having problems with wet rot in your building, contact Southern Damp Proofing today. We can help you eliminate the problem.
What happens to Wet Rot if left untreated?
Leaving wet rot to grow unchecked will lead to the weakening of the structural timber which could affect the safety of the residents. When the rot settles in the timber, it becomes spongy and falls in if you poke it with a knife or screwdriver. The final result is that the timber becomes less structurally sound, and the worst-case scenario could see your building condemned if it continues to spread. Call Southern Damp Proofing 020 7971 1329 and discuss your project with one of our wet rot treatment experts today.
Contact Southern Damp Proofing Now to Speak With an Expert
What is the cost of Wet Rot Treatment in Orpington?
Rot can cause extensive damage to any property. Repair and damp proofing costs will be different for each project based on the type and level of damage inflicted on the wood. However, don’t let it deter you. With our team of professionals available to help, you will quickly realise that wet rot treatment in Orpington can be affordable. We are dedicated to providing the right solutions to help you keep your home rot-free.
How to prevent wet rot?
Wood must be ideally kept dry and treated to prevent the timber from decaying. Wood hardeners are an effective way of protecting timber that is at risk of being infested by wet rot. The wood becomes stronger as the hardener soaks into it. The most vulnerable areas in a building are the window boxes and sills, including timber beams that haven’t been damp proofed and stand close to brickwork.
Talk to Our Wet Rot Treatment Experts Today!
If you seek further information to help you select the treatment of wood rot that would best serve your needs, don’t hesitate and call 020 7971 1329 to talk to a Wet Rot advisor at Southern Damp Proofing.
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