Wet Rot is becoming a widespread problem for property owners across the United Kingdom. But what is it and how can it affect your home?
Wet Rot is a generic term used to define a variety of Wet Rot species accountable for the decay and rot of timber. Wet Rot destroys the cellulose and lignin of wood exhausting the timber of all its natural goodness. If left untreated Wet Rot can have detrimental effects on a property often leading to the fall in a properties shape and structure. Wet rot is commonly found in timbers that come in to contact with damp masonry. Unlike Dry Rot, Wet Rot can only damage wood that has an extremely high moisture content typically in excess of 30%, therefore the wood must be physically damp to the touch for decay to occur. Wet Rot is typically the result of water ingress, usually due to leaky pipes: blocked gutters, defective rainwater goods, missing roof tiles or condensation. In order to avoid such issues, it is fundamental to the preservation and maintenance of properties that they remain as watertight as possible.
What to look for
Fortunately, Wet Rot is easily identifiable if you look in the right places. There are a few common signs of Wet Rot which will allow you to identify and eradicate the problem in its earliest form:
Timber will appear crumbling, with a brittle texture.
“Springy” floorboards
Cracking of the timber (cuboidal or against the grain depending on the type of Wet Rot)
Visual fungal growth
Damp musty smell
What you can do
Cases of Wet rot can easily be resolved if treated at the earliest opportunity. In the majority of cases, areas of infected timber must be replaced with pre-treated timber and the source of moisture must be identified and eradicated. In cases where your Wet Rot problem is the result of a build-up of condensation, you may need to improve your properties ventilation through an installation of fans or positive pressure units. Whether it is a leak or lack of ventilation; taking the necessary steps to overcome the underlying cause is essential, to ensure to ensure no future problems may arise. In more severe cases preservative control measure may need to be implemented, such as the use of a localised fungicidal spray to treat associated areas of infected timber.
When dealing with a serious property care issue such as Wet Rot, it is always best to seek specialist advice. Timberwise is a market leading Property Care Company with over 45 years of experience in the property care sector. At Timberwise we understand that your property is likely to be one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Providing a service and assistance for you the property owners, is what has drove us throughout the years and will continue to drive us through our years to come. Any structural concern or worry you may have Timberwise will identify and propose an efficient and thorough treatment, protecting you and your family for now and the future.