Dry rot and wet rot: what to do and what not.

Dry Rot:
This fungus flourished in an atmosphere which is warm, moist and poorly ventilated. Infected timber gives a dull sound when tapped. Other Signs are a musty smell; cracking or buckling of the surface ; a fine reddish-brown dust (the fungus spores) which appears when the wood is tapped; a cotton-wool-like appearance on the surface.

Where dry rot is suspected, professional aid should be called in, as treatment, to be effective must be drastic, thorough and applied with due regard to the structure of the house. On completion of the treatment, a reputable dry rot control firm will give a 20-year guarantee against reocurrence.

Even when the fungus has been destroyed and the diseased wood replaced, the cause of the trouble may still remain, so unless more efficient drainage
and ventilation are provided, the dry rot may recur. An expert firm will however be able to advise you on these points also.

As a preventive measure against dry rot, structural timbers (old and new) can be treated with a wood preservative. A wood dye with similar properties can be used on floors, inside woodwork and furniture; it is obtainable in various shades-including oak, mahogany and walnut.

Wet Rot:
This is a decay due to various fungi which attack wood under wetter conditions. It is usually easier to eradicate, the treatment being much the same as for dry rot.