How to Spot Early Signs of Dry Rot

Dry rot can be caused by many factors but the most serious is fungal decay (Serpula Lacrymans). Expert diagnosis is vital as this fungus can destroy a property's structural strength and sadly we have seen this on a few occassions. Dry rot occurs mostly in soft woods, and typically occurs where stone and wood are in contact. This fungus has the ability to grow through plaster, concrete and brickwork in the search for further wood. Dry rot treatments include rectifying the damp ingress, removal of plasterwork/masonry, removal of decayed timbers and sterilisation of the infected areas. Signs of dry rot can include: Musty odor : A distinctive smell of wet or musty mushrooms Cracked wood : Deep cracks in the wood grain, or a cuboidal pattern of cracks Discolored wood : Wood may appear dark brown, rusty, or have a reddish-brown discoloration Brittle wood : Wood may crumble or feel brittle when handled Spore dust : Fine brown dust or orange-brown patches of spore dust Mycelium : A cotton wool-like white or grey growth on the surface of the wood Fruiting bodies : Mushroom-like structures that look like small pizzas, with a white outer part and a rusty-red middle Hyphal growth : Thread-like white strands that spread through the wood Shrinkage : The wood may shrink If you suspect you could have Dry Rot in Dorset & Somerset please get in touch for a Free Survey!