An Ounce of Prevention Starts with Pest and Dry Rot Inspection

Two of the most common problems homeowners experience is with dry rot and pests.  You always want to catch either problem in the earlier stages to ensure it does not get out of hand.  That is exactly the reason it is important for you to have your home inspected on a regular basis.

Dry rot can really be problematic for homeowners since all homes make use of wood in some way or another.  Dry rot occurs in situations where there is enough water for fungus to thrive off of it.  They will feed on the wood and the problem will get progressively worse if left unchecked.

All that is needed for dry rot to become a problem is a source of water.  The wood needs to be saturated with at least 20% moisture in order for dry rot to occur.  It is best for you to catch the problem as early as possible since treatment is usually much easier.

If you catch dry rot early, you may be able to treat the problem using a preservative.  It will also be important for you to get rid of the water source.  However, if the condition is allowed to advance, then you may need to have the wood replaced entirely.  Obviously, this can be quite expensive depending on the scale of the problem.

There are a range of other treatment methods which can deal with dry rot.  The infected area can be treated with borate.  The professional may also suggest a sump pump, moisture barrier, or ventilation upgrade be made in order to deal with the water problem.

In addition to dry rot, various pests can cause problems around your home.  The most common by far are termites.  You will definitely want to catch them before their population grows since they can cause extensive damage.  Repairs from a termite infestation can easily reach into the thousands.

Termites are not the only pests you will need to keep an eye out for.  Carpenter ants can cause problems as well.  They do not eat wood like termites though.  They simply burrow through it which can cause just as much damage.  Other typical pests you need to watch for include cockroaches, rats, and mice.

It is very important for you to try to prevent problems with pests or dry rot.  It can definitely save you a lot of money and trouble in the future.  Have your home inspected by a professional on a regular basis so you can keep these problems from occurring.