More than likely your home is one of the biggest investments you'll have made, and wanting to protect it is not only expected, but encouraged. Be it your family home, an investment property you rent to others, or even a business property, the best way to protect your investment from major issues is to tackle them while they are still small.
Two majors issue that you should become familiar with, especially in the rainy and wet pacific northwest, are dry rot and wet rot. Both are very prevalent in the Vancouver area and have the potential to destroy your home, making it structurally unsound and unsafe to live it. Thankfully, though, both are treatable and such dangerous consequences can be easily remedied before they get out of had, saving you undue stress and money. But what's the difference between wet rot and dry rot?
Wet Rot Vs. Dry Rot
What is Wet Rot?
Wet rot is a broad term used to describe multiple kinds of fungus that can take root in the wooden structure of your home. These fungi grow by consuming organic compounds in wood, making it soft and unstable. To grow, though, wet rot needs at least 50% humidity, a high level of moisture under normal circumstances but easily reached if you have suffered a flood, pipe break, or even on-going leaking such as in a cracked window frame or insecure roof tiles that are exposed to outdoor elements.
How to Spot Wet Rot
Depending on the exact species of fungus that is causing it, wet rot will grow in dark brown or black patches (sometimes it can appear white, too, but this is much less common). It can be difficult to spot this way, though, so it's recommended to keep an eye out for the symptoms of wet rot and seek confirmation from a water damage specialist if you suspect wet rot in your home. Common symptoms of wet rot include:
Shrinking: If wood is being taken over by wet rot, it becomes soft which causes it to collapse under itself, giving it the appearance of having shrunk.
Softness: timber damaged by wet rot will be soft to the touch, in serious cases to the point of crumbling under the pressure of simple touch.
Discoloration: bleaching of wood exposed to wet rot is common, as chemical changes occur when the fungus eats through the wood.
Cracked paint: painted wood will often flake and crack as the wood it's on changes shape through shrinking and softening.
Smell: wet rot is often accompanied by a musty smell caused by the release of wet rot spores and decaying wood.
What is Dry Rot?
Dry rot is a specific kind of fungus, similar to wet rot, but significantly more dangerous as it can “eat” wooden structures by growing in areas with as little as 20% humidity, making it easier to start and more difficult to remove. It can also spread extremely quickly as it reproduces at alarming rates with spores traveling further than possible with wet rot.
How to Spot Dry Rot
Specific dry rot inspections of your home, either by yourself or by a dry rot specialist, is highly recommended as it can be quite difficult to find, especially as it can grow in hard to get to places with little light and low ventilation, like under floor areas, crawlspaces, and attics. Like wet rot, shrinking, soft timber, musty smells, and damaged paint are all common symptoms of dry rot. Additionally, be sure to check you home for the following common symptoms of dry rot:
Cracking: wood that is cracking along the grain is common, as this is the direction that water will travel and dry rot fungus will spread.
Rust: red rust can sometimes (but not always) be seen if there is a very high concentration of dry rot in one place.
How to Treat Wet Rot and Dry Rot
Treatment for both wet rot and dry rot is similar, as they are both a fungus that spreads by eating the wooden structure of your home. First and foremost, it is imperative that the source of the humidity or moisture must be found. This can be quite difficult, moreso for dry rot than wet rot. Seeking the help of a water damage expert like Pro Restoration is highly recommended both to save yourself the time of having to track miniscule water leakages throughout your home, but also to save you money as a professional company like ours will guarantee their work, giving you peace of mind knowing that you don't have to worry about future water damage in that area. Once the source is discovered, we can advise you on additional ventilation, waterproofing, and anti-humidity measures that can be used in that area and around your home to prevent moisture from reappearing there or elsewhere, stopping dry rot and wet rot before it can begin. Finally, all currently rotted wood will be repaired or replaced to keep your home safe.
If you suspect wet or dry rot in your home, or are concerned that your home may need additional waterproofing to keep rot from growing in your home, give our water damage specialists a call. As the local leaders in water damage repair and mitigation, we can assess the damage and create a custom plan to repair it as well as prevent more from happening in the future. We also work directly with your insurance provider, too, to get your repairs completed fully and at the lowest possible out of pocket cost to you.
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