So just what is this fungus “Dry Rot”….
© Julos
I have to admit, it’s a paradoxical little thing which confuses many people… I mean, just the words Dry & Rot in the same sentence don’t make sense ….
© Vika12345
So I have been searching for some answers as to why this paradox exists.…
Dry rot is a wood-destroying fungus & although it can easily affect forest timbers, dry rot is best known for its ability to destroy timbers in ships & buildings
Just to make life more confusing, there are a myriad of rot types which can affect your woods, including many wet rots which without a professionally trained eye can all look the same!
Add to that, the fact that dry rot has the ability to travel through building materials other than timber, making outbreak’s doubly worrying & fast spreading & if left untreated we have a true pain of a problem.
@bnmbb
For this reason additional measures, such as chemical brick/wall treatments often have to be completed when treating dry rot outbreaks.
So just how is a Rot – Dry???
Chemically, wood attacked by dry rot fungi is decayed by the same process as any other type of Rot. Ie:- there has to be a moisture to allow the fungus to grow…
This is usually (in the beginning around 30% damp) but once established this annoying little fungus can remain active & growing at around 20%…it can also remain dormant (in a spore like stage) for many many months if the water source is removed, but re-emerge extremely quickly if it is re-introduced.. For this reason, removing the moisture source permanently is absolutely key to removing Dry Rot – indeed it’s imperative for many Rot control processes.
However, it is not always possible or practical to be sure that the timbers will remain dry in the long term. Therefore, it is absolutely key that measures are taken to defend against re-infestation. Any affected timbers should be removed & replaced with pre-treated timbers. Any remaining timbers at risk of being affected by the dry rot should be treated with an effective fungicide.
Now all of the above just screams at me ROT ROT ROT = DAMP DAMP DAMP.
I still want to know why it’s called Dry Rot…
© Zmiy
Once affected, the decayed wood takes on a dark crumbly appearance, with cube shaped cracking which becomes brittle and can eventually cause the wood to become so dry it can turn into a powder.. It is this part of the process which gives the decay its name “Dry Rot” & which can cause the most worrying issues as the dried out wood can be so crumbly that it can literally shatter – causing terrible structural damage…
Now if all of this worries you, please don’t be too upset…
Of course talented professionals like London Property Preservation Ltd can treat this annoying fungus for you, but also take heart that Dry Rot is not picky & has bed-fellows throughout the UK – as some of these stories tell you.
Dry Rot at the Palace causes a Pre-Jubilee fire
Please read more at LPP -Click here
Email us here – Info@LondondampSolutions.co.uk
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