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With approximately 70% of the average house's fabric being timber, we thought we'd share with you the top 5 things you should look out for to check if your home is developing unpleasant wet rot.
Wet rot is the slightly less ugly sister of dry rot. It's the most common fungal pest to damage property. That's right, wet rot is fungi, a Brown Rot fungi named Cellar Fungus to be exact.
Damaging wet rot is the product of moisture coming into contact with wood (timber). The source of moisture can be many things, but is often faulty pumping system or guttering. It is in these conditions, where moisture and timber meet, that water ingress and damp result in the growth of spores and pesky wet rot.
Usually failing to spread beyond the area where the timber remains damp, wet rot, although easier than its evil twin dry rot to treat, still needs dealing with properly as it has the ability to weaken the overall strength of the effected property, becoming very dangerous over time.
#1 Paint or wallpaper peeling or becoming flaky. Due to the moisture associated with wet rot, the dampness can result in paint or wall paper on your wood beginning to flake off. It may be tempting to just repaint over the peeling paint and move on from the problem. We'd strongly advise against this. Ignoring wet rot can be dangerous as it can actually soften and weaken the structural strength and stability of your home.
#2 Musty odours. Many things can be the cause of dank stenches in your home, but fungal wet rot can leave the atmosphere in a room smelling damp and stale. Keep your nose vigilant for mouldy smells and investigate the possibility of wet rot upon sensing the musty smell.
#3 Spongy timber texture. After musty smells, the next obvious sign of wet rot can be that the timber/wood within your home develops a texture like a sponge, with the wood appearing springy and soft to the touch. This is an indication that the timber is weakening and isn't as robust as it once was, the wet rot acting out its damaging effects. You should check for a soft, springy texture of your home's wooden features regularly to ensure wet rot is being kept at bay.
#4 Visible timber decline. As well as paint overcoats peeling and the softening of the wood's texture, the timber may become noticeably distorted, discoloured or cracked as a result of wet rot, ultimately declining into a bit of an eye sore.
#5 Noticeable fungal growth. Sometimes you might spot actual fungus developing on the timber or even on your walls. At this stage, you need to take rapid action to combat the wet rot. Contact a qualified timber and damp surveyor like Bray Remedial Services, to accurately assess the issue and effectively remedy your wet rot woes!
Think you've got a wet rot problem in your home? You can also contact us on Facebook and Twitter to see how we can help!
