Wood rot
We will help explain what wood rot is and tips to prevent it. So what is wood rot, wood
decay as the result of decomposition of wood by certain fungi. Did you know
wood decay fungus grows prevalent in Florida since microscopic fungus spores are floating all
around us in the breeze and landing all around us even on our homes? There is
different kinds of rot such as wet rot, white rot, soft rot, brown rot also
known as dry rot. Wood rot if not repaired properly can spread and can cause
damage to the homes structural integrity.
A leak or flood that has
happened one-time, if discovered promptly and dried out properly, will not
cause rot in wood. Though, it would be a good idea with the use of
dehumidifier’s and fan circulation with inside the home during the time of a
leak to help assist with the drying period.
To
help you understand how wood rot occurs, it needs four favorable conditions
such as:
1) (wood) substrate - the fungi eats the wood lignin and
cellulose with in the wood
2) oxygen
3) warmth - any
temperatures between 77 degrees to 90 degrees
4) moisture
If
you remove one of these conditions you can stop rot in its tracks.
Helpful
tips to keep your home protective from rot.
1) Keep it painted; it is the easiest way to keep water
out.
2) Keep water from standing, standing water seeps in to
the joints and cracks in the paint and seep in to the wood favoring conditions
for wood to rot. It would be wise to redesign so water will shed away from the
house.
3) Keep your home to breath, allow bushes, and tree
branches trimmed away from the house. Clean the soffit vents and allow proper
airflow with in the attic area.
4) As a preventive measure, you could use “Bora-Care”.
This is a borate treatment that is easily applied to wood and over time can
penetrate the entire mass of wood. It is not only a fungus treatment but also
making wood unappetizing to wood boring insects and uninhabitable to fungi.
Staining Fungi
It’s
that time of year when staining fungi tend to favor growth. They are particularly
prevalent in exterior air in late summer and fall when diurnal temperature variations
favour the formation of fog and dew.
Staining fungi have the capability
to penetrate through paint films and their pigment protects them from
ultraviolet (UV) light.
Dry Rot
Dry
rot is an organic breakdown of wood fibers caused by a buildup of moisture and fungus.
In other words, when moisture is allowed to collect on a wood surface for an extended
period, in a poorly ventilated area, the internal structure of the lumber
breaks down and turns to mush.
Typical Trouble spots around the home:
·
Around windows
(especially skylights) and exterior doors.
·
Decks and
porches.
·
Shower walls.
·
Around the edges
of your roof (where gutters are attached).
·
Where caulking
is used as a joint sealant on interior or exterior surfaces.
·
The floor around
the base of your shower / bath tub.
·
The trim on the
exterior of your house.
·
The wood siding
around the base of your house.
·
The wood that
sits on top of your concrete foundation.
·
The wood near a
long-term plumbing leak.
Clues that your house may be hiding
rot:
• Walls that feel spongy and soft or have a musty
smell.
•
Wood that is shrinking and cracking.
•
Flooring or roofing that feels spongy and soft in spots when you walk on it.
•
Bubbling paint.
Typical insurance repair four-step
process:
1) First, the rotted wood sections are exposed by
removing enough of the wall, floor, roof or other material to see where the rot
starts and stops.
2) Second, the sections of rotted wood are removed. If
the wood is supporting other parts of the structure, bracing will be installed
beforehand to secure the section.
3) Third, a fungicide treatment is applied to the wood
surrounding the rotted sections.
4) Finally, the rotted sections that were removed are
replaced with new wood. (The contractor will restore the once-rotted area in a
manner that will prevent further moisture intrusion.)
Esurance
an Allstate company describes, but since dry rot doesn't just appear overnight,
the onus is usually on you, the homeowner, to ensure that measures are taken to
prevent dry mold from developing in the first place. As with mold or water
damage, any dry rot that results from long-term neglect or general home
maintenance issues is typically your responsibility to repair.
There
are a number of available treatments, like fungicides and borate wood
preservatives for wood rot and dry rot.
