Dry Rot is a very aggressive form of fungus that can cause significant damage to a property if left untreated. What makes Dry Rot so dangerous is its ability to travel between brickwork/masonry in a search for its next timber or food source. Dry Rot doesn’t require a lot of amenities to spread; a little bit of water and low temperatures can see it grow as fast as 80mm per day. This is why speed is key.
DRY ROT FUNGUS SYMPTOMS
Similar to Wet Rot Fungus, it affects the timbers appearance, turning them a dark brown. A cotton wool like growth will start to appear on the surface and can start to adapt to the timber. The colour of this ‘cotton wool’ can help you determine the age of the fungus; if it is white, it is very young whereas a mature fungus will appear brown or reddish brown. Specialist strands of the fungus can start to produce water and essentials to surviving which can cause further widespread.
It doesn’t bypass the brickwork or masonry completely either. Despite not feeding on this material, it can penetrate through plaster layers and cause internal structure to be affected and weakened. Spotting this fungus early will give you the best chance of saving your timbers.
APT have been successfully treating properties in and around Torbay for Dry Rot for over 25 years.