Got wood rot? Cut it out
Removing the damaged wood is the first step in stopping wood rot.
Wet wood rot requires a lot of moisture, whereas dry rot does not.
Using pressure-treated wood can reduce the risk of wood rot.
If you notice mushroom-like substances growing on pieces of damp wood around your property, you may have wood rot. Although wood rot is not harmful to your health, it can cause wood to become soft or brittle. If the damage is extensive on a support post or beam, there could be a threat to your home’s structural integrity. How do you stop wood rot? It’s a two-step process of eliminating damaged wood and, in the case of wet rot, greatly reducing moisture and dampness in the area.
Two types of wood rot are possible—dry rot and wet rot—and both grow in similar areas.
Wet wood rot occurs where wood is exposed to significant dampness or constant moisture. Damp basements, leaky windows and doors, and shady, wet outdoor areas may all experience wood rot. Dry rot doesn’t require much moisture to thrive, so it can be found anywhere on your property where there is wood.
What does dry rot look like? Dry rot usually has rusty-colored mushroom-like structures on the wood. It grows larger and spreads faster than wet rot. Dry rot makes the wood appear brittle and warped.
Wet rot often has off-white mushroom-like structures that are smaller than dry rot’s structures. It creates soft and spongy wood.
The causes of wood rot depend on whether you’re dealing with wet or dry rot. For wet rot, the causes are similar to what causes mold—constant and significant dampness.
If you have an area where wood has a lot of moisture, it’s possible for wet wood rot to form. Dry rot doesn’t need as much moisture as wet rot, but it does require at least a 20% moisture content measurement, while wet rot needs a minimum of 30%.
Tiny wood rot spores easily travel on air currents both indoors and outdoors. If spores from any of the fungi that cause wood rot land on wood with the proper moisture content, the spores can begin to grow and spread.
Early signs of wood rot look like whitish strands that resemble spider webs. They can appear about a week after the spores land. The mushroom-like structures that appear when damage to the wood occurs require a few months to a few years to form.
The best steps to stop wood rot are similar to the steps for preventing mold after water damage on wood.
Wood rot treatment starts by cutting out any areas of the wood that have damage. You must cut the wood rot out completely, or it could start growing again.
It can be challenging to remove all of it. Ultimately, you will probably want to contact a local water damage restoration expert to be confident about fully eliminating your wood rot problem.
After removing the rotted wood, you need to try to dry the area as much as possible. Reducing the presence of moisture can prevent new wood rot fungus infestations. Repairing leaking or sweating plumbing, adding fans, and using a sump pump can help reduce unwanted moisture indoors.
If the moisture problems and wood rot are outdoors, some options include:
Adding a protective sealant over the wood helps to protect it.
Using pressure-treated wood can reduce the risk of wood rot.
Adding a French drain moves water away from the area.
Lifting the wood away from the ground or removing mud around the wood can help.
Inspect gutters and downspouts for proper installation and remove any clogs you see.
When comparing black mold versus wood rot, they both are types of fungi that form in damp or wet areas. However, they cause different problems. Black mold grows on the surface of wood or other materials, while wood rot affects the structure of the wood material. Additionally, inhaling or contacting toxic black mold spores can make people sick. Wood rot spores are not known to cause illness in humans.
Water damage doesn’t always cause mold and wood rot, but it can. Water damage is moisture that discolors and stains wood. Both mold and wood rot require constant dampness and moisture to form, but water damage can involve a one-time moisture exposure. With water damage versus mold, the mold is a potentially dangerous fungi that could make you ill if you inhale the airborne spores. Water damage alone should not make you ill. With water damage versus wood rot, the wood rot affects the structure of the wood, while water damage simply stains it.
Learning how to repair rotted wood is something that can be done after stopping existing wood rot. After removing the wood rot, you can put new wood in place of the ruined wood. However, because wood rot is difficult to eradicate without expert help, you may want a professional to do it. Do not attempt repairs in the area until you are certain that all the damaged wood and signs of wood rot are gone.
