What Every Homeowner Should Know About Dry Rot

A house ages gracefully when it receives proper care and maintenance. If you don’t actively keep things fixed and inspected, then you risk damaging your home. Even though accidents happen, not paying attention to when problems occur leads to more expensive fixes later. If you’ve noticed corrosion in your home, that’s undoubtedly dry rot. If you’ve never heard of decay before, here’s what you and every homeowner should know about dry rot.

What Is Dry Rot?

Dry rot is a reaction that happens to lots of building material, but it mainly inhabits wood. When wood is damp and untreated, it becomes a feast for organisms like fungi. Once these organisms attach themselves to the building material, they break down the cellulose and hemicellulose. These two things help strengthen the wood. Therefore, the wood becomes weaker without them.

Is It Necessary To Check for Dry Rot?

Yes, it’s necessary to look for dry rot in your home, just as it’s essential to get rid of invasive funguses in their early stages. When inspecting a home, look for damp areas. Usually, rot occurs in basements and attics.

How To Know if You Have Dry Rot

You can tell if you have dry rot in your house by looking for damp corners. This fungus likes dark, moist areas. So contact a repair service if you notice the following signs:

  • Sunken wood
  • Silver and gray patches
  • Darkening wood and cracks

Dry Rot Is Treatable

This harmful issue is preventable. And as long as it’s in its early stage, you won’t need to bring in extra help. There are three treatments to perform, starting with epoxy. Epoxy treatments begin by filling the damaged wood with epoxy. The treatment kills the bacteria and renews the wood’s structure.

Another method is to use antifreeze, which kills the fungus and stops decay growth. It’s suitable for later stages. The last approach is to use copper compounds and requires the removal of damaged sections. The affected sections soak in a copper compound mixture to get rid of the rot.

Next Steps for Preventing Rot

Prevention starts with daily inspections. You don’t need to do them once a day, but consistent checks for plumbing problems or problematic roofing areas can help fight future issues. Additionally, you could contact a carpenter in Cumming, GA service to find dry rot and learn the best prevention solutions.

Here’s what you need to do often:

  • Check your ventilation system once a month
  • Reseal your deck every season
  • Use gutters for better draining

Check in with your local carpentry servicer to learn everything you should know about what dry rot is and prevention tips. These small actions will help significantly.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting wants you to have a livable home that ages well. If you hire us for your carpentry needs, we can perform inspections to ensure that there are no dire problems. And if there are, we’ll help fix them. Give us a call to learn more about our carpentry services in the Atlanta area.