Dry and Wet rot are types of fungal decay which attack timber. They can spread extremely quickly as the spores of the fungus settle on the untreated wood en masse before ‘branching out’ a network of threadlike branches which germinate and break down the wood for food.
Their growth rate can be phenomenal which is why they have such a destructive reputation. They can start in very similar ways – often from sources such as water ingress from external leaks, faulty plumbing, damaged guttering, poor stone pointing or leaking downpipes.
Many people try to treat dry or wet rot themselves, but if you don’t destroy all spores when you treat the rot, it will spread again quickly. It is always worth consulting an expert in order to clear all traces of the rot, as well as check the level of damage already caused.
Sometimes timber or masonry will need replacing, but you need to be confident that all traces of the rot are removed in this process.
There are significant differences between dry and wet rot though, so we have included some of the questions we are regularly asked on dry and wet rot which may help if you suspect you have rot in your home.