Living in the Pacific Northwest, it should come as no surprise that one of the biggest culprits to our homes is dryrot. It sneaks up over time and can cause serious structural damage if not taken seriously or treated adequately. But what exactly can be done to repair it and how can we protect our homes from future damage?
What is Dryrot?Also known as brown rot, dryrot is soft, brittle, rotten areas of any wooden surface that has been caused by fungi growth due to excess moisture in the wood. In Washington's wet climate, this can easily happen, especially among older homes that don't have modern protective measures in place. Frustratingly, because dryrot is caused by a living fungi, if left untreated, it will continue to grow and spread through nearby wooden structures of your home or business's architecture, including frames, beams, and foundations of homes, leaving its structure, and any people within it, in a potentially dangerous situation.
Treating Dryrot with Water Damage SpecialistsAlthough dryrot can usually be spotted fairly easily when you know what you're looking for, the discolored, soft, sunken wood can be tricky to repair without expert help because the rot must be cut out entirely in order to avoid it spreading. This may require some professional strategies in order to maintain the structural integrity of your home while the rotten wood is removed and replaced. In many cases, too, quality contractors will want to inspect within the walls, foundations, or roof of your home to make sure there's no hidden rot and to find the source of the leak that's allowing the moisture in your home that dryrot needs to grow.
Preventing Water Damage and DryrotThe key to preventing dryrot is as simple and as complicated as limiting the amount of water that the wooden areas of your home is exposed to. New homes are often built with this in mind, but will need to be maintained regularly and especially if you've had a plumbing emergency recently. Older homes are particularly vulnerable to dryrot and should be inspected and treated regularly, especially siding and roofing, which can both become easily susceptible to Washington's famous rainy weather. If you find dryrot in your home or business, your contractor should be able to not only repair the rotten areas, but also trace the rot to its source and repair it against future water damage. Because dryrot is mostly within the walls of homes, expect that you won't see the majority of the damage. So don't be afraid to insist on photos showing you exactly what and where the issue lies. And make sure your home repair contractor treats not only any damaged wood, but all healthy wood surrounding it with a fungicide as an added precaution against future water damage.
Highly prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, water damage and dryrot are dangerous home repair issues, but luckily are easy to treat and straightforward to prevent if handled quickly and professionally.
If you suspect your home has dryrot, call the water damage experts at Pro Restoration. Their experienced crews can access the damage, find the source of the leak, repair damaged areas, and protect other vulnerable areas of your home against future damage, without fuss and all while keeping you fully informed of all your home improvements along the way.
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