Wet & Dry Rot Survey Services
Protect Your Property By Identifying Wood Decay Early. Our Wet & Dry Rot Survey Services Will Help Prevent Costly Damage.
The difference between dry rot vs. wet rot, and why it matters.
Dry rot and wet rot are both types of fungal infestations that causes wood to decay. However, they have different characteristics and behaviours and as such require different treatments. Getting the correct diagnosis is therefore essential.
DRY ROT
- Survives with lower humidity, and spreads through dry wood by transporting moisture from other wetter areas. It spreads faster, and is more invasive and destructive than wet rot.
- The infected wood appears brittle and cracked, with white or grey threads running through the surface. As the fungus matures, you can see mushrooms, or rusty-red spore dust.
- Travels through other materials like plaster, brick and stone.
- Produces a musty damp odour, but it’s less pungent than wet rot.
On the whole, its more dangerous because of how quickly it can spread through non-wood materials making it much hard to control and contain.
WET ROT
- Requires high humidity to survive, and is therefore confined to the damp area.
- The infected appears damp, and feels soft and spongey. It’s often discoloured depending on the particular wood and fungus.
- It generally only affects wood, and not plaster, brick or stone.
- It has a stronger musty and earthy odour than dry rot.
It’s a little easier to treat than dry rot, because it’s contained in the damp area and doesn’t spread as aggressively.
What causes dry and wet rot, and do they have to be treated differently?
Dry rot is caused by a combination of moisture – which allows the fungus to form – and poor ventilation which enables the fungus to thrive in relatively dry conditions after the initial moisture problem. Because of it’s invasive nature, treatment would involve removing all affected wood, and applying anti-fungal treatment to the surrounding areas to stop re-infestation.
Wet rot is cause by prolonged exposure to high moisture, which can come from leaks, poor drainage or condensation. Since wet rot tends to remain localised in wet areas, it’s easier to treat by simply addressing the source the water and drying the affected area. The risk of further spread is minimal.
We can surmise that wet rot is the easier problem to have… but the reality is that both can have long-term negative effects on the structural integrity of your home and on your health. Fungal spores produced by dry and wet rot can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma, and cause allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose and itchiness. Not to mention the bad odour!
At the first signs of fungal infestation, get a survey done. If you spot infestation in one area, it’s important to know exactly how far the damage has spread and address the root cause of damp as soon as possible.
FAQs on Wet and Dry Rot
How do I know if my property needs a wet or dry rot survey?
At any point that you can see signs if damp in your property, it’s a good idea to get a comprehensive damp check survey done. You’re likely only seeing the tip of the iceberg, and it’s important to get an accurate assessment of what is sourcing the damp, and how far the problem has spread. It’s also important to get the correct diagnosis. The following signs are good indicators of wet and dry rot, but they can also be symptoms of other forms of damp damage:
- Wood decay – discolouration, brittle and cracked wood, or soft and spongy to touch.
- Odours – musty, damp and earthy odours that permeate from one location.
- Mould and mildew – usually visible on walls and other wooden surfaces like window sills and door frames.
- Mushrooms growing on wood – this is a pretty sure sign of dry or wet rot! It’s important to asses how far it has spread through the building’s structures.
- Sagging or warped structural components – floors, skirting boards and ceilings.
How often should I get a wet and dry rot survey done on my property?
A regularly damp check survey every 5 years or so is advisable for more most properties. However, buildings that meet the following conditions should undergo more regularly checks:
- Older properties (build 50+ years ago) – Older properties are more susceptible to rot due to aging materials, more use of wood and timber in the infrastructure and historical incidences of damp problems. Survey every 5-10 years.
- Properties with history of damp issues – If your home has previously been subject to leaks, flooding, poor drainage or persistent mould, it’s more vulnerable to rot. Frequent surveys of between 2-5 years is recommended.
- Buildings located in damp or humid climates – Properties in regions with a lot of rain, close to bodies of water like seas and rivers are at more risk of flooding and other damp issues. Survey every 5-7 years.
- Homes that have recently been treated for rot – It’s essential to monitor and maintain your home frequently after reapirs, to make sure that the issue has been fully resolved and minimise any chance of recurrence. A survey should be done every year for 2-3 years after an incident of rot.
In each case, regular surveys help catch any early signs of rot before they cause serious damage.
How long does a typical wet and dry rot survey take?
Depending on the size of your property, it can take up to 3-4 hours to do a full comprehensive survey. We don’t just focus on the affected area because damp issues have a habit of spreading and popping up in unexpected places. For example, you may have initially discovered wet rot in the attic, but the cause of that leak could be penetrating water from the outside, affecting walls that go beyond the attic. We may also find that part of the cause is poor ventilation, which can affect other places in the house too.
How much does a wet and dry rot survey typically cost?
It would depend on the size of your property. The best thing to do is to fill in the form and a get a full written quote from us. It will give you a timeframe and an estimated budget, and we’ll be on hand to answer any specific questions directly.
What happens if wet or dry rot is discovered during the survey
After the survey is done, we will give you a thorough report of where we discovered the wet or dry rot, the extent of the damage and what’s sourcing it. We will also give you clear recommendations of what immediate and long-term actions you need to take. You can then use this information to hire a contractor that can carry out the repair work for you. We recommend that you look at a number of different quotes, and make sure that you hire the correct help.
Our surveys are completely independent, and we have no bias over one solution or contractor over another. We want you to take the assessment and understand the problem properly so you can be empowered to hire the right help.
Should I get a wet and dry rot survey when I buy a house?
Yes. A wet or dry rot may indicate hidden issues that can affect the value and safety of the property you’re buying. With a complete survey, you’ll know exactly the extent of the damage, and factor in the cost of repair to the offer you are making.
If you are selling a property, you should also get a survey completed. This will allow you to diagnose and repair the issue before it causes a complication in the sales process which will be costly – and a real headache!
Don’t take our word for it…
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David was very helpful, knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions I threw at him last week, and there were a lot!
His feedback has saved the need for unrequired damp proof course work and will no doubt have saved our house sale from stalling. Thank you, I would have no hesitations in recommending or using David again.
Russell G. Handsworth
(Birmingham)
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With thanks for the report and your work. We will be speaking to the builder about action to try and resolve the problem.
We appreciated your warm approachable manner and your willingness to listen and are grateful that you identified condensation to be the problem after various other attempts to try and identify the damp patch had not been successful.
Rev K
(Tewkesbury)
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Thank you so much for doing our survey. I can’t get over how detailed it is, definitely worth the money. I’m glad to see there isn’t too much wrong and appreciate how thorough you were.
Elecia, whose house it was, said she was so impressed that she will try to hire you herself and you can’t get a better recommendation than that.
Elizabeth and Dennis
(Birmingham)