Wood rot what it is and tips to prevent it.

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.

If you need help with your wood rot or WDO repairs  your local Handyman be able to assist.