Georgia Home Remodeling Will Remove Dry Rot

Have you seen that dark, flaky, and sunken dry wood look in your home’s siding or the pillars, perhaps? Especially if you have an older home or are getting ready to need a new paint job, you may have what is called “dry rot” on your home. Now, you may be asking how you treat dry rot.

Let’s get into what dry rot is and the treatment for the condition.

What Is Dry Rot

Simply put, dry rot is the name given to brown rot decay. Wood that did not correctly cure, is in areas of excessive humidity, or has been in a flood situation is susceptible to dry rot.

The rot is caused by a fungi species that digests the portion of the wood that gives it its strength called the cellulose and the hemicellulose. The spores essentially dry out the moisture in the wood.

What homeowners need to know is how to identify the four stages of the rot.

1. The Spore stage appears as fine orange dust on the surface of the wood.
2. The Hyphae stage begins when moisture causes fine white strands to grow from the spores.
3. When the hyphae germinate, the Mycelium stage starts as a large mass.
4. The Fruiting Body is the final stage, putting out more and more spores, spreading the condition.

At this point, the wood loses its strength and begins to break down. The wood will appear sunken with darkened cracks. It may even have a skin-like growth on it that is silver and gray and peels off.

The very beginning stages look like cotton wool stretched over the surface. In that case, you have caught it before germination.

The Damage Dry Rot Creates

The discovery of a dry rot issue in a home causes sheer panic for those who have witnessed the damage dry rot can do. Removing the dry rot source is imperative to stopping the spread and breakdown of the structure.

Dry rot will deteriorate the home’s support posts and beams, rot the floors, and destroy the roof decking and ceiling joists. When caught early, the wood can be treated and replaced. If found too late, the repair could end up costing a homeowner thousands of dollars to repair.

Stopping Dry Rot

There are two ways to stop dry rot. It is through prevention and treatment that wood can avoid the decay of dry rot.

Prevention

Limit wood’s exposure to water in the following ways.

• Have wood properly sealed, primed, and painted by a professional.
• Examine windows and doors to be sure they have adequate seals.
• Check roofs, eaves, and pillars for dry rot annually.
• Install gutters to keep water off the home and away from the wood surfaces.
• Maintain service agreements for all plumbing and HVAC to ensure no leaks in the home’s systems.
• Install working fans in bathrooms and the kitchen to remove excess humidity.
• Be sure the attic has proper ventilation and lacks humidity.
• Seal exterior wood on surfaces like the fence, deck, and picnic table.
• Have sprinklers adjusted periodically to keep them from spraying wood surfaces of the home.

Treatment

Three ways to treat dry rot and eradicate the fungi should be administered by a professional.

Commercial Antifreeze will kill the fungi when properly applied.

Epoxy Treatment is a filler that will kill the dry rot fungi and fill in the wood to give it the strength it needs.

Copper Compounds are available if you are patch repairing a section of the wood.

Other than these three, the entire pieces and surrounding wood should be professionally replaced.

Georgia Home Remodeling will Treat Dry Rot on Your Home

Make no mistake; wood rot will spread if not cared for as soon as it is found. If there is no softness to the wood yet, technicians can treat the condition. Otherwise, the wood will need replacement. Luckily, the home remodeling experts at Georgia Home Remodeling can detect and repair or replace wood that has been subjected to dry rot.

Let Georgia Home Remodeling inspect your home for dry rot and remediate the area before germination occurs. Contact the friendly staff at Georgia Home Remodeling as soon as you suspect dry rot in your Georgia home.