5 Questions About Wood Rot

Wood rot is a common problem, especially in older homes. It can occur in almost any home, and there are certain things that make it easier for wood rot to occur. If you have an older home, or if you have had a flood in your home, it is important to keep an eye out for wood rot and to check periodically for signs of wood rot.

What Is Wood Rot?

Wood rot is caused by fungus that will grow on your wood and weaken it. It happens when the wood becomes wet and your home is warm. It is common in areas that are usually damp, and your crawlspace may be one area that has an issue with wood rot. You may also face issues in your bathroom or eve in your attic if you have had a leak in your ceiling. It is vital that if you have a burst pipe or flood from a rainstorm that you make sure everything dries out completely as quickly as possible to make sure that you do not end up with wood rot.

How Do I Identify Wood Rot?

You may see the fungus growing on the wood itself. You can also check the wood. If it is spongy or soft and darker than the other wood, this is a sign. If the wood has dried out completely, it will be crumbly and crack easily when you test it.

Where Can Wood Rot Occur?

Wood rot can occur anywhere in your home where wood is. The wood needs to become wet to allow the fungus to grow on it, so bathrooms and kitchen floors are common areas, as is your crawlspace or basement, but it can spread from those areas to other areas in your home.

How Do I Repair Wood Rot?

When dealing with repairing wood rot, you will need to replace the wood that has been affected by wood rot. There are treatments you can apply to the surrounding areas to stop it from spreading. The wood rot weakens the wood and can cause issues with structural integrity of your home, so you need to act quickly to address the issues of wood rot around your home.

How Can I Prevent Wood Rot?

Building with wood that is treated against wood rot can make a difference. The most important thing you can do is to keep the wood dry, which means making sure your crawlspace is dry and climate controlled. You also need to act quickly after a flood to clean up and make sure everything dries out completely.