How to Spot Rotting Timber (and What to Do About It)

Whether you have a new build or an old property, the structure will be made up of timber framing. It’s a strong, reliable material used in construction, unfortunately, it’s susceptible to wood rot. When wet or dry rot sets in, it compromises the integrity of the structure and poses a huge risk. If you’re worried your property might have wood rot, here’s everything you need to know.

Dry rot vs wet rot: what’s the difference?

There are two different types of rot that affect timber: dry and wet. Although they both lead to the deterioration of wood, they are quite different.

Dry rot

Dry rot is caused by a fungus called Serpula lacrymans. The fungus grows and feeds on the cellulose in the wood. As it eats through, the wood deteriorates, compromising the integrity of your property.

It can be difficult to spot dry rot in a property and it can go undetected for some time. When it becomes pervasive, signs include:

• A fluffy white substance on timber
• Mushroom-like fungus on the surface (often rust red or yellowish in colour)
• Spore dust floating
• Warped, split, crumbling, or shrunken wood
• An unpleasant musty smell

Wet rot

Wet rot is also caused by fungus – the most common being ‘Coniophora Puteana’ (also known as cellar fungus). When timber becomes damp, this fungus proliferates and eats away at the wood.

The difference here is that wet rot will only spread as far as the damp extends. Dry rot, on the other hand, will spread much more quickly.

It’s also much easier to identify wet rot and it’s far more common. The signs include:

• Wood appearing darker in certain areas
• Easy to penetrate or break up
• Feels damp to the touch, soft and spongy
• A black fungus may be visible in severe cases

How to treat wood rot

Dry rot and wet rot are treated differently and the methods will depend on your property and the severity of the rot.

The first step is identifying the source of the damp and removing it completely. This could be a leaking pipe or a crack in a wall or roof that is letting in moisture. If you get the rot removed without remedying the damp issue, it will likely return.

Next, a chemical fungicide will be used to eradicate the rot and stop it spreading further. Although it is possible to buy rot treatments in local hardware stores, it’s best to call the professionals for severe cases to ensure the problem is gone completely.

Protective measures are then needed to keep the wood dry moving forward. This involves keeping the wood dry and treating it with a commercial quality waterproofer to stop rot becoming an issue in the future.

Call the timber treatment experts

If you think you have either dry or wet rot in your property in Worthing, call us today. We are experts in damp proofing and timber treatment and will assess the extent of the problem for you. All of our damp proofing work is covered by an extensive 20-year company guarantee, giving you peace of mind that your rot issue is gone for good.

5 Benefits of Waterproofing Your Basement

If you have a basement in your home in Worthing, you’ve probably already experienced issues with moisture. Since it’s below ground, the basement tends to be colder and damper than other parts of the house, no matter how well maintained it is. Waterproofing your basement will not only reduce the moisture and make this room much more usable, but it will also protect your basement from more severe damp and flooding problems.

If you’re unsure whether waterproofing your basement is the right option for your home, this post will show you the important benefits.

Better protection from flooding

Whether a pipe bursts or rainwater run-off heads for your property, your basement is the most likely spot to get flooded should the worst happen. Although this is the worst case scenario, having your basement waterproofed will help protect it from flooding.

If you use your basement as storage for belongings or valuables, the last thing you want to deal with is water damage from a burst pipe or flood.

Create another room in your home

Waterproofing your basement will make it much more enjoyable to be in. It won’t feel like a dank storage space anymore, and many people turn it into a playroom, den, or theatre after having waterproofing installed.

Think of all the extra space you could have for your family if your basement was a liveable room.

Warm up your home

Your basement is basically a large, cold cavity under your house. When it’s waterproofed, it becomes much warmer, meaning the rest of your home will be warmer too. This is because there is no longer cold air rising up, helping the rest of your home feel cosier. 

Increases resale value

If you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future, having the basement already waterproofed will boost the resale value. Buyers are looking for waterproofed basements but don’t want the hassle of doing the job themselves. You’ll find it much easier to sell your property – and for a better price – if you get it done now.

Prevent damp in the rest of your home

Damp issues tend to spread fast. If your basement is musty or you’ve spotted rising damp in the corners, it won’t be long until that problem seeps up to the rest of your house. And this isn’t just an aesthetic problem, damp is a serious health risk and can jeopardise the structure of your home.

Having your basement waterproofed helps minimise the chance of rising damp affecting the structure of your property, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Want to know more about basement tanking?

Our team of damp proofing experts are known in Worthing and the surrounding areas for our quality basement waterproofing services. Whether you’d like a quote for new waterproofing to preempt damp issues or you’ve spotted moisture problems and need expert advice, call us today.

5 Tips for Stopping Damp Problems in Your Home

It’s a sinking feeling when you spot a damp patch on your wall or ceiling. Is there a broken pipe? Will repairs be expensive? It’s a stressful feeling not knowing the extent of the problem. Not to mention living in a damp home poses a serious health risk to your loved ones. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to help stop damp becoming an issue in your Worthing home. Follow these steps to help keep your home dry and damp-free.

Clean your gutters

Blocked and broken gutters are a common cause of damp problems. Water flows over the edge and down the walls of the house, slowly penetrating the brick until you spot a big damp patch in your room.
Ensuring your gutters are clear and well-maintained year round will stop this happening. While you’re at it, check your roof and walls for holes and cracks that rainwater could be getting into.

Keep the temperature constant

Condensation in the home is another major cause of damp issues. When the home is warm, moisture forms that then clings to surfaces when the temperature drops.
If you turn your heating up high for short spells and then let the house get cold again, you’re more likely to get damp. Instead, try keeping your temperature on a constant all day, preferably at a low temperature to avoid the house becoming too warm in the first place.

Ventilate well

In the warmer months, open up your windows to allow fresh air to circulate the house. This will help prevent condensation building up.

If you have a washing machine and tumble dryer, make sure these are plumbed in and vented correctly to avoid a build up of steam. And if weather allows, dry your clothes outside to avoid that unnecessary moisture being released into the air of your home.

Avoid producing lots of moisture

If you can’t avoid washing and drying clothes indoors, consider a dehumidifier to help minimise the moisture in the air.

But it’s not just laundry that can cause a lot of moisture. Home improvement and cleaning when the weather is cold will also increase the risk of damp. Painting, decorating, mopping floors, etc. all cause moisture to build up in the room so should be saved for days when you can open up your windows.

Take care when cooking

Cooking meals and boiling the kettle produce considerable amounts of steam which you’ve probably seen cling to the windows and walls. Try to make your kitchen as well ventilated as possible with a quality cooker fan and open windows when cooking.

Always turn your cooker hood on when cooking and leave it on for five minutes after to extract as much steam as possible.

Need a damp expert?

No matter how careful we are, damp walls or ceilings are sometimes unavoidable. You might have a leaking pipe hidden in the wall or a crack that’s letting rainwater in. If you’re concerned about a damp problem in your home, call our team in Worthing today. We’ll come out to do a property survey and find the source of your damp problem.