DRY ROT

Of all the problems that can occur within a building probably one of the most devastating is an attack of dry rot. There are various forms of timber rot, all of which require specific conditions to exist, but all types are essentially caused by fungal growth.

Dry rot favours damp unventilated conditions within an ideal temperature range of between 5 degrees and 26 degrees C and is therefore well suited to our temperate climate in the UK.

Outbreaks of dry rot tend to begin their life in quiet and concealed areas of buildings, below a timber floor for example, and can easily spread, undetected, behind skirtings and plasterwork and even through masonry in search of further timber food supplies. Its rate of growth, given reasonable conditions, is about lm per year. Unfortunately this particular type of rot is extremely capable of propagating itself by producing a fruiting body (or sporophore) which can discharge spores at a phenomenal rate of up to 800 million a day for up to two weeks enabling the commencement of new growth locations.

As this particular type of rot is sometimes difficult to locate, and is very often expensive to eradicate, it is important for a property surveyor to carefully look for any warning signs where conditions for decay may exist. Springy suspended timber floors for example may appear relatively innocuous to the untrained eye but may well be the first warning sign of an outbreak of dry rot to the sub floor structural timbers. Another example often found in residential buildings is slight unevenness and distortion to timber skirtings or door architraves: it can often be the case that paintwork finishes are largely intact but the structural integrity of the timberwork has already been lost to an outbreak of decay.

The presence of an outbreak of dry rot can sometimes be detected by its characteristic mushroom like smell, even though the visible signs may not be present; this can easily be the case in a fully furnished and fully carpeted dwelling and a good surveyor will have a sensitive nose!

The affect of an outbreak of dry rot should never be underestimated as it can cause considerable disruption to both the property and its occupants. A 'dream' property purchase can readily turn into a nightmare, even though some insurance policies can offer a degree of security for the cost of remedial works.