If you were told the floor joists that were supporting your home had “dry rot” chances are you might come to the conclusion that it was a problem. Although “dry” sounds like a positive thing, “rot” most definitely does not. You would be right that dry rot is a problem, and has been a problem in homes since very long ago. In this post, we will explain what dry rot is, how it comes to be, and how you can prevent it.
All wood-decaying fungi require a moderate amount of water in order to grow. This will allow bacteria and micro fungi to colonize resulting in the partial breakdown of the cell structure of the wood. As this process happens, the wood becomes even more porous allowing for it to become even more wet. Once the moisture levels of the wood reach or exceed a content of 30%, dry rot can begin to colonize and germinate which inevitable leads to decay.
Every property is susceptible to dry rot growth, given the right conditions, due to the fact that all dry rot spores are airborne. Once germination is established, the growth can explode and cause rapid spreading, even through thick walls of brick! The growth looks white and almost fluffy in appearance. If the dry rot growth is challenged with either light, a lack of food (wood), water, or air, it will begin to shed spores in order to further the growth of the colony.
To treat dry rot, the first step will be to address the sources of the means that dry rot can grow. For example, a crawl space repair professional might point out any cracked or leaking pipes or other sources of water intrusion into the same area where your home’s wood floor joists are exposed. Stopping water intrusion is key to inhibiting dry rot growth. Second, any currently infected wood will need to be removed.
Calling a professional to inspect the conditions of your crawl space and exposed, infected wood is detrimental to completing a repair job that not only removes all of the growth, but also ensures the job is done with minimum destruction to your home. Give Barrier Waterproofing Systems a call at (615) 257-1060 today to schedule an evaluation of your crawl space and receive a repair service that helps make your home healthy again!
