Commercial Dry Rot Specialists

Damp and timber problems can’t be fixed using a one-size-fits-all solution, and dry rot is no exception. As a result, Garratt’s Damp & Timber Ltd. provides tailored solutions to combat even the most difficult of complications.

Dry rot requires immediate action, as it can spread from house to house, rapidly eating away at the structure and foundations of properties. Therefore, whether you’re a landlord, building contractor, or property manager, these problems need to be responded to with urgency. That said, how can you be certain that your property is suffering from dry rot?

How to Identify Dry Rot

Different parts of dry rot present themselves differently. For instance, the vegetative part of the fungus can have silvery-grey skin with lilac and yellow colouration or a white cotton wool-like carpet. Meanwhile, the fruiting body is a large, fleshy plate that can grow across timber, masonry, and soil. This can have a reddish-brown appearance with an outer perimeter of white and orange patches.

In addition to the above visual cues, there are a few other indicators of dry rot, including the following:

• Sap between floors and skirting boards or between walls and architraves.
• Movement in the floors.
• Weak timber that crumbles in the hand.
• Decaying/damaged timber that may also feature grey strands and deep cuboidal cracks.
• A musty, damp smell.

Dry Rot Causes

Ironically, dry rot is caused by excess moisture in a property. In fact, the primary causes include the following:

• Poorly ventilated environments in which high levels of condensation can occur.
• High moisture content in wood, wherein fungus can establish itself; this is typically a result of defective drains, roofing defects, plumbing leaks, and gutter leaks.

Dry Rot Damage

Dry rot can be incredibly damaging to the structure of a property, as the spores of dry rot germinate in the pores of the timber. This results in vegetation that feeds on the timber before spreading and producing a fruiting body. This fruiting body will then release more spores, allowing for the cycle to continue. From this, the timber structure can start to shrink and crack, resulting in brittleness and wood darkening.

What’s more, dry rot usually migrates behind plastered and rendered walls in the search for more timber. Consequently, the property’s masonry can also be damaged, not just the timber.

How Dry Rot Contractors Treat Dry Rot

In order to treat dry rot, we first address the overriding issue of dampness. Without this crucial step, any repairs or replacements are rendered useless, as the rot will simply take hold again. Once the dampness has been addressed, though, the rot needs to be eliminated via the removal and replacement of the affected timber and masonry. If any remains, this will need to be sterilised, too.

Dry Rot Specialists Near Me

If your commercial property is suffering from dry rot, don’t delay in getting in touch with Garratt’s. We understand the urgency of the issue and will act as quickly as we can, so let us know how we can be of assistance today.