How to Prevent Dry Rot
Dry rot is actually a bit of a misnomer, as it occurs because of moisture in the timber. The wood does not have to be soaking wet, however, and all that is needed for the dry rot fungus to establish itself is high humidity. Once dry rot is established in the wood it is difficult to stop the spread, so the key is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. The fungus thrives in places with a combination of warmth, darkness, and moisture such as attics and crawl spaces, under decks and shaded areas where wood siding meets the ground. With a little knowledge on how to keep your wood moisture-free, you can prevent dry rot in and outside of your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheet
- Vents
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Instructions
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Control moisture in any crawl spaces. Place a layer of plastic over the dirt floor of a crawl space to keep moisture from getting at the wood walls. Also make sure this area is well drained.
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Control moisture in your attic as well. Look for leaky pipes or leaks in the roof around the flashings. Evidence of this would be stains on the roof or soaking insulation. Fix these leaks as soon as possible to prevent dry rot and other problems from occurring.
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Install ventilation in your crawl space or attic if there is none currently. According to Criterium Engineers, you should provide at least one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet.
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Inspect any wood around windows and doors, under sinks and in showers. Make sure these areas are dry and if there are any leaking pipes around wood in these areas, fix them.
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Check to see if any wood outside your home is touching the ground. Some wood must touch the ground, of course, but if your siding is close to the moist dirt it is susceptible to dry rot. Also elevate any decks that you construct. Proper drainage systems and proper placement of sprinkler systems will keep water away from the house and deck, taking away a major contributor to the fungus as well.
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Look for a pattern of peeling paint on your siding. If it is peeling in only a certain area, then that could be an indication of moisture in your walls that could easily lead to dry rot. Once you find evidence of this, identify the source of the water and cut it off from the walls. The fungus cannot survive without water.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find that the dry rot has already begun to take hold, apply a fungicide with boric acid or borate to the affected area. Follow the directions on the package for repeated applications. Do not apply this fungicide to wood that is still wet.
