Dry Rot & Timber
The one damp problem that eats the building. Dry rot is a timber-destroying fungus that spreads fast through damp, unventilated spaces, weakening floors, joists and joinery as it goes. Caught early it is very treatable; ignored, it travels.
Timber reports suitable for consideration by mortgage lenders and insurers
What you might be seeing
-
Spongy or bouncy floors
Boards that flex, sink or feel soft underfoot.
-
A mushroom smell
A distinctive damp, fungal smell under floors or in cupboards.
-
Rust-coloured dust
Fine reddish spore dust settling on surfaces near the outbreak.
-
Cracked, cuboidal timber
Wood that has dried, shrunk and cracked into cube-like sections.
-
Fungal growth
Grey strands or a fleshy, pancake-like growth on timber or masonry.
Why it happens
Dry rot needs two things: timber and moisture. A leak, rising damp or a blocked air brick raises the moisture in structural timber, and the fungus does the rest, spreading through wood and even across masonry in search of its next meal.
Because it often starts under floors and behind skirtings, it can spread a long way before anyone sees it. That is why a proper timber and moisture survey matters, and why the moisture source must be fixed as part of any treatment.
How we fix it, properly.
Survey and map the outbreak
A detailed timber and moisture survey finds how far the rot has travelled, with detailed reports suitable for consideration by mortgage lenders and insurers when the paperwork matters.
Read more about Damp & Mould Reports
Cut out, treat and replace
Infected timber is removed under control, surrounding materials are sterilised, and replacements go in as treated, rot-resistant timber.
Read more about Damp & Mould Reports
Fix the moisture that fed it
Whatever let the timber get wet, a failed damp proof course, a leak, blocked ventilation, is addressed to minimise the risk of further fungal decay.
Read more about Damp Proof CourseWhat homeowners tell us.
Arrange a damp or mould assessment.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will trace the cause and quote the fix once. Or WhatsApp a photo for a fast opinion.
Request a Damp Assessment
Tell us where the problem is located and what signs you have noticed. A member of our team will contact you to discuss the issue and arrange a suitable inspection.
"*" indicates required fields