Wet & Dry Rot

Gen Damp are experts in all forms of fungal decay. From identifying the dry rot through to the correct treatment, you can ensure Gen Damp will treat your dry rot problems efficiently and professionally.

Dry Rot

Dry rot (Serpula lachrymals) can cause extensive structural damage to your property. Under certain conditions it can grow at an alarming rate, these conditions include dampness, running water, poor ventilation and bad maintain ace or any combination of these.

Dry Rot is the most serious of all the wood rotting fungi. For fungal decay to begin it requires water to penetrate wood which then allows bacteria and micro fungi to colonise the damp wood resulting in the partial breakdown of the wood cell structure. The wood then becomes more porous and potentially wetter. If the moisture content is sustained at above 18% wood moisture there is the potential for rot to occur. If the wood moisture rises above 30% it will rot. Dry rot can colonize and germinate which inevitably leads to decay.

As Dry Rot spores are present in the atmosphere this means that all properties are susceptible to attack given the right conditions. Once germination is established the fungus can spread rapidly. It can even grow through masonry walls and concrete floors in search of nourishment, which gives it the potential to be widespread and cause extensive damage to your property if not treated at the earliest opportunity.

Dry Rot Life Cycle

Dry Rot (Serupla Lacrymans from the Latin for snake like serpula and lachrymans meaning tear drop this refers to the water droplets extruded by the fungus to control its own environment).

The true dry rot fungus needs three elements to germinate and continue its growth within timber. These are Water, Air and a Food source in this case timber. The fungus obtains its food from the timber by breaking down the cell walls of the timber which eventually results in a loss of strength in the timber and ultimately the overall collapse of the timber.

For the purposes of this explanation we will assume the that the timber has a moisture content of between 25% and 30% for optimum germination and growth of the fungus.

The lifecycle begins with a spore landing on the timber in the correct environment. The spores are omnipresent which means they are suspended within the atmosphere at all times. If a sample was taken of the air in the room you are in and it was micro filtered it would be highly possible that dry rot spores would be present in the filters. As the spores land on the timber they germinate and produce Hyphee growth. The Hyphee growth is the roots of the spores and is a similar process to placing seeds in compost to germinate. The Hyphee growth then mass together to produce Mycelium growth, this is white and fluffy almost cloud like in appearance. After a period of time of extensive growth and feeding the dry rot becomes stressed. This happens when one of the three necessary elements for growth (water, air or wood) is removed or if the dry rot is in the vicinity of light. When stressed it produces a sporophore or fruiting body (mushroom) which is a self reproduction organism. This allows the spore carrying surface of the sporophore to eject into the atmosphere so that the new spores can land again in the right conditions to carry on germinating and extending the growth of the dry rot.

The presence of dry rot in properties is usually as a result of a building defect allowing the ingress of moisture, for example leaking or blocked gutters, cracked down pipes or plumbing leaks. However if a building is correctly maintained and kept watertight then in general terms this would preclude the presence of dry rot.

Remedy

Gen Damp its surveyors and trained operatives have decades of combined experience in the treatment and eradication of dry rot. Our fully trained and experienced surveyors will identify the type and estimate the extent of any decay and will produce a report and recommended treatment to eradicate your dry rot problem. You will also have the peace of mind from a 10 year guarantee for the work carried out.

Here at Gen Damp we will:

• Identify the nature, type and extent of the decay as far as is possible
• Determine the cause and find the source of moisture
• Propose the cure for the dry rot with specification and methods for the rot treatment
• Advise on any additional works that may be required to safeguard the property in the future

The sight of fungal decay can strike horror into property owners. Whether it is dry rot with its fruiting bodies and orange spore dust or wet rot and its cotton wool like mycelium. Gen Damp can effectively treat and remove dry rot, wet rot and other forms of fungal decay. Here at Gen Damp we have years of experience in the correct identification of fungal decay and the treatment of dry rot and wet rot. Our range of treatments will solve your rot problems with the minimum of fuss, with the benefit of a long term guarantee you can be confident that any fungal decay issues you have will be gone for good Guaranteed!

Wet Rot

Wet rot fungi whilst generally not as destructive as dry rot it can still cause severe damage if left untreated and can cause structural damage to your property. Wet rot is commonly found in timbers that come into contact with damp masonry. Usual signs of a problem include localised fungus which is mainly black in colour and the decayed timber changes colour as well as the size and type of the cracking in the affected timber.

Gen Damp its surveyors and trained operatives have decades of combined experience in the treatment and eradication of dry rot. Our fully trained and experienced surveyors will identify the type and estimate the extent of any decay and will produce a report and recommended treatment to eradicate your dry rot problem. You will also have the peace of mind from a 10 year guarantee for the work carried out.