One of the worst things you could encounter as a homeowner is dry rot. This wood fungus, also known as Serpula lacrymans, feeds off of woodland timber. If you are remodeling your home, you must address dry rot and similar issues. You cannot redo the concrete plaster walls, for instance, if the wood has dry rot. These fungi can spread through the air quickly; if you discover an infestation, you must get rid of it right away.
How do you identify dry rot?
Dry rot has several distinct features. First, it has mycelium, a visible, whitish growth which looks like thick cotton. Sometimes, it leaves behind a texture that resembles snakeskin. Mycelium can also form teardrops or strands that crack when bent.
Meanwhile, the spore-producing structures are pancake- or bracket-like. They are orange and typically have red spore dust around them. Finally, the fungus could develop a silky grey or white skin, especially in drier conditions, and the surface often has patches of yellow or lilac.
How do you treat dry rot?
The first thing to remember about treating dry rot is that you must get rid of the moisture. It involves repairing the wall, replacing the leaky pipe, or patching up the roof area with the hole. After this, you must dry the wood itself and add ventilation or another way to decrease humidity. Once you’ve done these, you can begin with the actual treatments. Here are some things you could try for the rot.
Borate-based solutions
Preservatives for new wood often contain borates, which often figures in many dry rot solutions. You could drill a hole into the affected wood where you inject the solution or spray the fluid over the infected surface. Note that borate-based formulas are water-soluble. Though borate solutions penetrate the wood easily, they can wash away over time.
Glycol-based solutions
If you’re not a fan of borate treatments, you could try glycol-based ones. You can typically find glycol in antifreeze and de-icing liquids. Painted or coated surfaces can easily absorb glycol, though it can also wash away in a particularly moisture-rich environment.
Using heat treatments
Heat fumigation and microwave treatment are two methods that quickly get rid of dry rot since this fungus is sensitive to high heat. When you have your home fumigated, you must remove heat-sensitive objects in the home. You would also need to stay out of the house while the fumigation is taking place, and make sure that you have heat-resistant residential plastering.
If heat fumigation is not an option, you could try microwave treatment, a newer method that uses specialized equipment. You could do this treatment on targeted areas, though it could also cause heat damage.
Replace the affected wood
A straightforward way of dealing with wood rot is by removing and replacing the wood with infestations. It would help if you also treated the surrounding areas with fungicides, killing any remaining traces of the rot. One hindrance to implementing this type of treatment is the considerable amount of resources it takes to replace entire areas in a home.
Conclusion
Wood rot is a persistent problem that causes severe long term damage to a home. To keep your house sturdy and your family healthy, you should treat this infestation soon as you identify it to be a problem.
Know that your renovation is in good hands when you partner with One Stop Plastering. With over 60 years of experience, we offer top-shelf Bay Area plastering and dry rot repairs, among other services. Get in touch with us today for more information!
