Biocraft Ltd carries out dry rot surveys and dry rot treatment throughout Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Oxfordshire.
Call 0800 781 8358 to arrange a dry rot survey or to discuss dry rot treatment.
Dry Rot Treatment In Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey And Oxfordshire
Wood rot is caused by various fungi (of which dry rot is just one), which grow when the environmental conditions are right. Wood rot usually occurs when the moisture level of wood become elevated (~>28%) and is sustained at a level (~>20%) that will support fungal growth. Spores of a variety of fungal species are present in the air and these spores will germinate on wood that is at the right conditions and cause wood rot.
Wood rots are divided into two groups white rot and brown rot. White rots attack all components of the wood, ligin, cellulose and hemi cellulose and cause the rot affected wood to become fibrousy as can be seen below.
Brown rots (of which dry rot is one) on the other hand only attack the cellulose and hemicellulose, causing the rot affected wood to crack in a Cuboidal manner.
Dry rot (serpula lacrymans) is a brown rot. All other wood rots are wet rots. Correct identification of the type of wood rot (dry rot versus wet rot) is essential, as is the need to determine the source (or sources) of moisture that led to the conditions that resulted in the wet or dry rot.
Dry rot Treatment in Reading Berkshire
Biocraft can carry out dry rot timber decay (wet and dry rot) surveys and devise property specific dry rot control and treatment regimes for dry rot. This will involve determining and removing the source of moisture ingress that has led to the dry rot outbreak.
All Biocraft surveyors are Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (CSRT) and can advise on dry rot treatment.
To arrange a dry rot survey or to discuss the treatment of dry rot in Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, or Surrey please call 0800 781 8358 or email [email protected]
Dry Rot Treatment
Dry rot tends to affect softwoods that are at an elevated and sustained moisture level. Dry rot growth is a combination of mycelium (mushroom textured sheets) and hyphae (thick strands). A dry rot fruiting body if present will be a fleshy plate with rusty red coloured dust (dry rot spores).
Dry Rot Treatment in Oxfordshire
The dry rot infected wood breaks down into large cubes, and damage can occur in a relatively short period of time.
Example – An untreated replacement softwood sash window frame that was installed following a dry rot outbreak by a building contractor without adequate damp proofing protection, decayed to the point of replacement in less than three years. This is an example of the speed of dry rot decay, but also an example of not removing the cause of the dry rot prior to reinstating the damaged timber. It is essential stop the source of moisture and promote drying. The dry rot treatment regime depends on the nature of the property and whether the dry rot affected areas will be available for ongoing monitoring.
Non invasive dry rot treatment techniques (sympathetic) can be employed if the property owner is willing to accept a prolonged period of monitoring coupled with enhanced drying measures.
Biocraft carries out dry rot treatment and control services in residential and commercial properties throughout Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey and London.
To arrange a dry rot survey or to discuss the treatment of dry rot in Reading, Newbury, Oxford, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, or Surrey please call 0800 781 8358 or email [email protected]
Wet Rot
Wet rot is a very common result of poor property maintenance or building defect. Once the source of the moisture is removed and drying is promoted, it is sufficient to replace wet rot decayed timber and if necessary use a suitable preservative to protect timber that is at an elevated moisture level until it dries down.
Brown wet rots
The most common wet rots that cause cuboidal cracking are cellar fungus and mine fungus.
Cellar fungus is common in skirting boards and in joists in basements. Brown strands are often seen radiating from the wood and the timber will frequently retain a thin veneer at the surface, below which is the damaged wood.
Mine Fungus is pure white, and the strands stay flexible when dried, unlike dry rot strands that become brittle when dry.
White wet rots
White wet rots attack all components of the wood, ligin, cellulose and hemi cellulose and cause the wood to become fibrousy. The most common white wet rots are Phellinus contigus, Asterostroma species Donkioporia expansa. In addition there are various other not so common rots which may be present when building materials are subjected to elevated and sustained moisture levels. As with all types of wet rot, the first priority is to remove the source of moisture.
