Wet Rot Treatment / Dry Rot Treatment
Timber is resistant to decay provided it remains dry. Inadequate ventilation and prolonged wetting as a result of, for example, faulty rainwater goods, rising damp or poor maintenance diminishes this resistance, although the vulnerability to decay varies between timber species.

Wet Rots
There are numerous Wet Rots some of which are white rots and some of which are brown rots.

There are many fungal species causing Wet Rot. Some, such as Fibroporia Vaillantii attack softwoods others such as Donkioporia expansa will attack hardwoods, whilst other wet rots such as Coniophora puteana can attack both. The same remedial measures however are required for them all.

Dry Rot
The True Dry Rot Fungus, Serpula lacrymans (formally Merulius lacrymans) is a brown rot, which attacks mostly softwoods and is significant for its ability to grow over inert surfaces and spread extensively behind plaster and through wall surfaces. Once established brown rot can quickly cause collapse of structural timbers, making correct identification and dry rot treatment imperative.

Whilst properties of all ages can be affected by Dry Rot, older properties are more susceptible due to the window frames, joist ends, wallplates, timber grounds and timber lintels being in direct contact with the masonry.

The appearance of a fruiting body or a fine layer of reddish-brown spores may be the first indication of Dry Rot and exposure works are often required to determine the full extent of a dry rot outbreak. Such exposure works for dry rot may involve stripping plaster, lifting floorboards, removing sections of ceiling and removing skirting boards and architraves.