Wet Rot
What Is Wet Rot ?
Like Dry Rot, Wet Rot is a fungi species generally used as a term to describe multiple species. The most common fungal species is cellar fungus, also known scientifically as Coniophora Puteana. Wet Rot occurs when moisture is absorbed into any unprotected timber, usually sub-floor joists ends where they encounter external masonry walls are the main culprit due to the close proximity of any damp soil below.
Wet Rot fungi obtain their food by breaking down the cell walls of wood cells, resulting in the loss of strength in any timber. Given the right conditions such as continual water ingress and poor subfloor ventilation wet rot can attack timber to such extent it can cause entire structural deficiency of any affected timber flooring.
What Causes Wet Rot ?
Usually Wet Rot occurs as a result of some sort of property defect, some of the main causes are leaking pipework, external guttering or penetrating damp through inadequate pointing.
As with any timber decaying fungi, wet rot needs a source of damp timber, preferable with a moisture content of above 50% to germinate and grow. Checking your property is watertight should be routinely carried out throughout the year to minimize any chance wet rot has to manifest.
Wet Rot requires a constant supply of moisture to germinate and grow, thriving on timber with a moisture content above 50%. We usually see wet rot go unnoticed for long periods of time due the fact unlike Dry Rot, Wet Rot doesn’t have the ability to travel behind plasterwork or through masonry walls, confining wet rot to sub floor voids or loft space, unchecked for extended periods of time. Poor Subfloor ventilation can also cause timbers to absorb moisture resulting in the occurrence of wet rot. Clearing any blocked air bricks should also be a priority.
How To Treat Wet Rot ?
First step as always with any eradication strategy is to find the responsible defect, removing the source of moisture ingress should be number one. Once this has been corrected any damaged timber should be removed and replaced with pre treated timber.
As a precaution we would advise all remaining timber within the area of the first outbreak be treated using a special boron based high strength fungicide. It is essential any wet rot is diagnosed by a specialist as wrong diagnosis will lead to incorrect treatment.
Common signs of wet rot include:
- Fungal growth localised to the source of water ingress.
- Soft, damp, spongy timber to touch.
- Dark coloured timber compared to other areas.
- Damp musty smell.
Still unsure what step to take next ? Contact our team for free friendly advice or to book your free quotation.
