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Whilst Wet Rot should not be mistaken for the more serious form of Fungal Decay, Dry Rot, it can still be a potential source of damage to your property if left untreated for an extended period of time.
Wet Rot is the common term for various fungi which attack wood when it becomes damp or wet. There are many different fungi in the Wet Rot family, however, they are generally divided into two types, brown rots and white rots.
The most common type of Wet Rot we come across in properties is Coniophora puteana (also known as cellar fungus) a brown rot, which attacks and degrades the strength and structure of wood and timber if left untreated.
Wet Rot most commonly occurs in areas where there has been water penetration. i.e. bathrooms, kitchens, windows, doors, basements, attics, and areas close to rainwater goods or high ground level.
If you have experienced water ingress in your property, the likelihood of an attack by Wet Rot under floorboards or behind wall linings is increased.
After conducting an inspection of the affected areas, our surveyors will put together a report and sketch showing the treatment proposed. The first step is to identify the source of the water ingress and to rectify this as quickly as possible to prevent the rot from reoccurring in the future.
If the Wet Rot outbreak has been discovered in its early stages, it should not have spread over too large an area. In these cases, carrying out repairs are relatively straightforward and involve simply cutting out and replacing the affected timbers so that the structure retains its strength. The area is then treated with a fungicidal treatment to prevent the rot from reoccurring.
Where the outbreak of Wet Rot has been left to develop undiscovered for some time, the result may be more serious and multiple parts of a structure being affected. If the structural integrity of a property has been compromised, more significant areas of the property may require repairs, such as roof joists, rafters, floor joists, wall plates etc. Whilst the treatment process is the same regardless of the extent of the outbreak, the upheaval may be more significant and may involve other trades to assist, such as roofing contractors.
If you have any questions about Wet Rot or believe that you may have a Wet Rot outbreak, please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our team would be happy to discuss the matter with you.
