Damp and Timber Specialists for 50 years

What is Dry Rot Treatment?

Treatment for dry rot, (serpula lacrymans) is the process in which remedial work is carried out once this highly destructive type of rot has been confirmed.

Prokil have expert surveyors who are able to identify when specialist dry rot treatment is required and the best form of remediation. The correct curative methods are often both intense and extensive, which can bring about a fair bit of upheaval for a property and its occupants.

Should you have a cause for believing that your property is suffering from dry rot then swift remedial action should be taken. Your local Prokil Timber Specialists will guide you through the dry rot wood treatment and repair process with minimal fuss.


Why Do I Need Dry Rot Treatment?

Dry rot is the most damaging and aggressive form of fungal rot attack for internal timbers. Due to its ability to spread over dry materials, to grow behind plaster and to travel vast distances over short periods of time, dry rot treatment is vital. Without treatment, dry rot will continue to attack more and more timbers in a property eventually causing them to give way completely.

The correct process of dry rot repair should be adhered to ensure that it ceases to grow, spread and cause further damage. With incorrect timber rot treatment, a property is likely to encounter further problems in the future.

The presence of dry rot is an indication that there are likely to be other issues with a property. Excessive levels of water are required to create the right environment for dry rot to germinate. The most likely sources of which are from external defects allowing penetrating damp, blocked drains or burst pipes.

Dry rot treatment should only be carried out by experts who understand the correct processes required. Our dry rot specialists at Prokil have all been trained to carry out dry rot treatment in accordance with all current codes of practice and have been helping customers for over 50 years.

How Do I Know If I Need Dry Rot Treatment?

Dry rot can spread quite far before the full extent of its damage is discovered. Sometimes the presence of dry rot spores are the first indication that there is a problem. Whatever the case, Prokil can easily determine whether your property requires dry rot treatment and repair. Usually an initial survey will be non-intrusive, but will be followed up with an intrusive survey to fully discover the extent to which the dry rot has spread.

Looking out for the following symptoms can assist in identifying whether dry rot treatment may need to be carried out by your local Prokil team.

  • Timber which has shrunk, particularly behind painted surfaces
  • Cuboid shaped cracks along the surface of the timber
  • The presence of mycelium, strands which develop within the mycelium or fruiting bodies which are rusty orange in colour with paler edges

What Does Dry Rot Treatment Involve?

Dry rot treatment is very similar to that of wet rot. The main difference is that sometimes the full extent to which the rot has spread is only discovered once remedial works are underway.

  1. In order for dry rot to germinate and develop it requires damp timbers. All sources of moisture should be fully investigated and stopped. Sometimes this is a simple repair but sometimes can require more labour intensive works.
  2. Heating and drying should be introduced to the damp areas for a period of time that is deemed necessary. Without the required moisture dry rot will not be able to further germinate more rot spores. Caution should be taken not end the process here as dry rot will continue to spread in an attempt to find new sources of moisture.
  3. The timbers which have been identified as being affected by dry rot should be carefully removed and disposed of in the correct manner.
  4. The area in which the dry rot has been growing should be appropriately cleaned and all surfaces sterilised with a professional fungicidal treatment. In some instances more than one treatment is required. It may be necessary for the top layer of subfloor earth to be removed and disposed of.
  5. Pre-treated timbers which comply with BS 8417:2011 should be installed to replace those which have been removed ensuring all cut ends are appropriately treated and isolated from damp masonry.

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2

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