Wood Rot: Why It Happens, How It’s Harmful, and What to Do About It
A home’s wooden features can rot in both wet and dry conditions. If you’re experiencing wood issues at your house, it’s best to act quickly.
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Wood rot comes from moisture and fungi
Wet rot, which is caused by moisture, is often more obvious than dry rot, which is when a fungus breaks down wood.
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Rotten wood threatens a home’s structural safety
The wooden parts of a home are some of the most important, including joists, beams, and other structural elements. Failure of these essential features could lead to sagging, bulging, or even collapse.
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It’s possible to fix wood rot
Wood rot is not necessarily a death sentence for a piece of lumber. If you act quickly, you can remediate the issue and stop further damage.
Wood gives homes a beautiful, natural aesthetic that can help them fit into both modern, chic neighborhoods and timeless scenic communities. However, with that beautiful wood comes a big problem: rot. Also known as wood rot, this damage can threaten not just the visual appeal of your home but also its structural integrity.
The team at Mr. Handyman has been handling dry rot repair near you for years. We want to see our beautiful communities stand the test of time, so contact us if you’ve noticed rotten wood developing in your residence! We serve East Greenville, Greer, Taylors, Mauldin, and more.
Understanding the Science of Wood Rot
If you’ve ever picked up a wet piece of wood in the forest only to find it easily crumbling in your hand, you’ve seen wood rot. This issue can arise for two reasons: moisture and fungi. In the case of moisture, called wet rot, the wood fibers expand as they suck up the dampness. This by itself can weaken the wood, since it’s not tightly and impenetrably bound together anymore, but it’s also a good environment for invaders. Bacteria, mold, and other organisms can infiltrate into the weak fibers, further creating gaps and destroying the material.
The other type of rot, dry rot, arises specifically due to the fungus Serpula lacrymans. This fast-spreading organism bursts through wood fibers quickly as it grows, pushing the wood apart and creating a crumbling, cracking, or soft texture.
Both wet and dry rot can be a challenge in South Carolina, but in our area in particular, wet rot is more common. We see a lot of damp weather, so if your home’s wood is starting to feel the effects, don’t wait to address the problem! Find a team like Mr. Handyman that does wood rot repair near you, so they know exactly how to fix the issue while anticipating the local environmental conditions.
Signs of Wood Rot
Wood rot can take many forms depending on its severity and the type of wood being affected. In general, look for:
- Spongy, soft wood
- A damp, earthy smell
- Cracks or surface damage
- Discoloration (usually darkening)
- Warping
- Bubbles or stains (if the wood is behind paint)
Set up an appointment with a team that does rotted wood repair near you as soon as you notice wood rot problems. While most repairs happen in the spring and summer, rot can be fixed at almost any time, and it’s important not to let it get worse!
How to Fix Dry Rot
So you’ve found some rotten wood around the house. What do you do next? There are a few options that the Mr. Handyman team handles regularly:
- Exterior siding & trim repair – If your problem is mostly on the outside, we can patch damage to your trim and siding by removing the rotted areas and replacing the relevant pieces.
- Crawl space joist replacement – Joists are the horizontal supports that hold up a floor (or ceiling). If these start to rot, you could quickly see big problems, like a sagging ceiling, which is very dangerous! We can replace the joists in your crawl space or reinforce the floors to keep the home safe.
- Garage door frame fixes – Door frames are often exposed to severe elements, like prolonged rainstorms. Mr. Handyman can patch small damage with epoxy or wood hardener, but for larger fixes, we’ll take care of replacing the entire door frame for you!
- Windowsill & frame restoration – Wood rot can be fixed with products such as filler so long as they are applied with skill. If your windowsills have seen better days, we’ll restore them or get you situated with new ones that stand up to the weather.
Why Choose Us?
Mr. Handyman of East Greenville Greer
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