What are the health risks of dry rot?

Of all the timber fungi, dry rot is one of the most dangerous, not just to the integrity of your building, but because of the underlying damp problem it represents. Whilst dry rot on its own won’t cause too many health problems, it can cause costly structural damage that will eventually become a health hazard.

What is dry rot?

Dry rot is perhaps the most serious form of fungal decay. It attacks timber, generating moisture from digesting the surface it grows on. Unlike the less dangerous wet rot, dry rot is able to spread through damp brickwork and plaster, allowing it to spread throughout a building with ease. It’s one of the most difficult types of rot to treat and can even lead to timber and brickwork collapsing in extreme cases.

What are the health effects of dry rot?

Dry rot is not believed to produce any toxic chemicals or compounds and is therefore not too much of a threat to your health directly, however, a small number of hyper sensitivity cases to the fungus have been reported.

More pressingly, the presence of dry rot in your home indicates high levels of dampness and condensation, which can cause respiratory problems and make underlying conditions, such as asthma, worse. Furthermore, dry rot eats through your timbers, causing them to weaken and eventually collapse - this can cause serious health and safety concerns.

How can I get rid of dry rot?

Dry rot removal is complex and should only be carried out by professionals.

A specialist has to first identify the fungus with a survey, and then work out the best course of action of how to treat the property. Dry rot has a four stage cycle, starting with spores and ending with fruiting bodies.

If you think that you may have dry rot, contact a specialist to treat it. At Croft Preservation, we recognise that not all cases of timber rot are obvious. We offer damp survey services and can remove rot from your property with minimal disruption to your property.

As experienced dry rot removers we have helped numerous clients across Dorset and Hampshire resolve their problems with infestations. We are perfectly positioned to advise you on whatever the situation requires and use only suitable products when carrying out our service. Contact us to book a damp survey today on 01202 737739.