Quick and Helpful Tips on Repairing Dry Rot in Your Home

Quick and Helpful Tips on Repairing Dry Rot in Your Home

Wood is a unique material type that adds great charm and character to any home. However, when wood meets water, it can increase the possibility of dry rot growth in your home. Dry rot, also called wood rot or brown rot, is wood decay caused by certain fungi that eat up parts of the wood that give its strength and stiffness. If you ever notice visible signs of dry rot, it should be treated right away to prevent the fungi from spreading through the wood and onto other surfaces that it encounters.

If you have a wood balcony, deck, cabinet, flooring or any other type of wood fixture in your home and you happen to discover dry rot in your home, here are some helpful tips to guide you for repairing the dry rot.

Signs of Dry Rot

Before repairing anything, take some time to inspect all the different wood parts of your home and check for any signs of dry rot. If you notice parts of the wood that are dark, it could be water damage and a professional should be contacted to help if needed. If the wood is painted, look for any signs of blistering, cracked or peeled paint. You can also use a screwdriver to poke different parts of your wood. If it feels soft, spongy or penetrates easily, that could be a sign of dry rot. Once you’ve identified any areas with dry rot, you will be ready to begin the repair process. Keep in mind that repairing dry rot is a multi-step process that could take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks, depending on the extent of the damage. So it is always best to treat it as soon as you spot it.

Remove the Dry Rot

Once you’ve identified the dry rot areas, use the appropriate tools to scrape, cut or safely remove the infected wood. If the damage is relatively small in size, you can even use a screwdriver to chip away any weakened, soft pieces. When scraping the wood surface, dig into the rot and scrape out all the loosened material until there is a healthy wood surface.

Treat the Wood Area

After removing all parts of infected wood, apply a fungicide. Be sure to spray in a wide diameter around the area you cut or scraped out to eliminate any other fungi from potentially spreading through the wood. Every fungicide has different drying times, so check yours to ensure the proper amount of drying time is given.

Replace the Damaged Wood

Now that your wood is fresh and dry, carefully apply wood hardener to prevent any more dry rot. You can also use epoxy to repair the damaged wood. With the moldable epoxy, simply use a portion to fill in any holes or to shape the trim of the wood. You can also use epoxy with smoother consistency to fill in any smaller holes and gaps.

Paint and Protect the Wood

With the hardeners and epoxys applied, the freshly replaced wood is now ready for sanding. Take some time to carefully sand your wood for a nice smooth surface. When the sanding is complete, the real fun finally begins. Choose paint colors to refresh your replaced wood and remember to match colors in the surrounding area too. If the wood surface is on the outside of your home, find the proper exterior surface paints and primers for a quality finish.