Dry Rot: Most Serious Decay of Timber

class="googleright">Dry rot usually results from too much moisture in
Dry rot is a 1956 British Comedy film starring Braincontact with wood. The dry rot fungus has the
Rix, Ronald Shiner and Sid James. My article is not tounusual ability to transport water from wet areas to
talk on this topic; it’s about the problemdry areas allowing the fungus to grow in relatively
from which the house suffers. Dry rot is the decaydry wood.
of timber due to the fungus Serpula Lacrymans. It isIt is often confused with carpenter ant or termite
considered as the most serious decay of timber.damage. The most important way to prevent dry rot
Dry rot is a condition of wood in which a fungusdamage is to reduce or eliminate excess moisture.
breaks down wood fibers and renders the woodThis is as simple as repairing a leaky pipe or as
weak and brittle. The fungus digests the part of thecomplicated as stopping water infiltration through a
wood that gives the wood strength and stiffness.basement foundation.