| For most of us, our home is our biggest investment. | | | | developing wet rot in your home. Wet rot must be |
| Maintenance on a home need not be expensive, but | | | | dealt with as it will completely sap the strength of |
| if there is no upkeep at all on a property, it could | | | | the lumber. It could also lead to dry rot, which is far |
| cost you a bundle! Damage to the timbers of your | | | | harder to eradicate. There are reported cases of dry |
| home could also put you and your family in danger, | | | | rot, where the client has not realized there is any |
| as structural supports can collapse if weakened | | | | problem until their foot goes through the floor! |
| enough. | | | | However, it does take a long time for the wood that |
| The areas most easily affected are those where | | | | is exposed to damp or water to actually become |
| wood can accidentally get permanently damp or wet. | | | | irreparable. Any wood that has a moisture content of |
| This could be caused in several ways, even | | | | less than 20% will not attract fungus or rot. And if it |
| insignificant factors such as condensation or free | | | | goes over this balance and does attract rot, then it |
| flowing air can contribute. | | | | may take many months to actually become |
| Some of the most common causes are: Loose roof | | | | significant. This is why maintenance, in the form of |
| tiles will allow water to seep into your roof eaves, | | | | regular checks, is so important. |
| where it may be soaked up by the wood, yet not | | | | Wet rot is not always cured by simply drying out the |
| actually drip into your house. It is also advisable to | | | | affected wood, although this is a good first step! The |
| check for leaks behind your washing machine, and | | | | second step is to find out where the source of the |
| around all your plumbing. | | | | water is coming from. If your wood looks brownish, |
| Broken down pipes may come disconnected and | | | | it may be time to get expert help. |
| ineffective. For instance: if any of your down pipes | | | | Wet rot can be best removed by cutting away the |
| leading from the gutter have come loose, water | | | | timbers affected and joining new timbers in. |
| could be seeping under your home and into the | | | | However, if it goes to dry rot, a 'safety perimeter' |
| foundations. | | | | must also be cut away as dry rot is a breeding |
| For instance, it seems a small matter when the | | | | ground for fungus, spores etc. |
| gutter fills up with leaves and overflows into your | | | | Having a new floor or roof is a major financial outlay |
| yard, but it could spell disaster for your home. Many | | | | (as well as a huge inconvenience). It can be avoided |
| of us have no ladder and it is a long way up to the | | | | by a regular annual check for dampness and leakages. |
| roof, and it seems a harmless problem. | | | | This small outlay is not a waste of money, it may |
| But, the longer you leave free flowing water around | | | | add up to only 1% of the cash you will have to find |
| your house, the more chance you have of | | | | to repair wet or dry rot. |