Dry Rot FAQ
June 22, 2009
Despite its name, dry rot is caused by moisture. Here are some of the dry rot FQA (frequently asked questions) and tell tale signs you should be looking for from our dry rot expert - Les Meikle:
Q The floorboards of our first floor flat at the left-hand side of our front bay window are soft and the skirting board and window panels above are warping. Our downstairs neighbour has noted cracking to the ceiling plaster. What should we do?
A It sounds as if you may have dry rot affecting the main supporting beams across the bay window at floor level (bressumer beam). The cracking to the ceiling below would tend to suggest that the beams bearing end might be losing its structural integrity. A Specialist PCA Qualified Contractor should be called in immediately as propping from below may be required to remove the risk of collapse, whilst in-depth investigation should be carried out using fibre-optic borescopes that would limit the amount of damage caused by the inspection, but will give an accurate insight to the extent of the dry rot outbreak.
Q The flooring of our rear bedroom in our south-side bungalow has become "bouncy" and a gap has formed between the skirting board and the floorboards. We have also noticed a brownish dust on top of the skirting boards?
A It certainly sounds as if fungal decay has become well established in your floor supporting timbers (joists) and the brownish dust would tend to suggest the presence of dry rot. You should refrain from walking in this area, have the area fully inspected and the dry rot eradicated by a competent Specialist Contractor.
Q We have a floored attic in our stone villa and whilst storing some articles in the roof we noticed a brown mushroom like growth with a white border on the ceiling joists where they rest on the outside wall - the timbers themselves look all right?
A What you describe sounds like the fruiting body of the dry rot fungus and what you are seeing is probably the tip of the iceberg with potentially a substantial attack of dry rot affecting the wall head wall plate and perhaps extending downwards into the timber safe lintels of the windows or doors below. A detailed inspection will accurately identify the extent of the outbreak.
Q We noticed a large football sized structure in the corner of our roof void between the sloping roof and the ceiling joists. My husband poked it with a stick which seemed to go right through the structure - what could it be?
A My guess is, from your description, that your husband is very fortunate in that it sounds like he has just disturbed a wasp's byke. There is a good chance that the nest is empty and whilst these nests can be confusingly similar to dry rot mycelium, they are unlikely to cause any harm to the structural timbers of the roof.
Q I am told that once dry rot gets into a building that the building will always be susceptible to further attacks - can you clarify?
A An outbreak of dry rot requires both moisture and timber as a food source. Presuming that the source of the moisture is correctly identified and rectified in conjunction with a competent dry rot remediation regime, there should be little cause for further concern. It is essential in any older building that the water management systems, i.e. roof coverings, gutters, down pipes, pointing and the like are fully functional.
Find out more about Dry Rot
For further information or help on dry rot, why not visit our dry rot treatment webpage and view our helpful treatment video. You can also find out more about how your dry rot problem occured with your dry rot lifecycle webpage.
If however, you suspect your property may require Dry Rot Treatment, call Wise Property Care today on 0800 65 22 678. Alternatively, contact us using our online Contact Form and we'll arrange for one of our Dry Rot Specialists to call you at a time convient for yourself.