There’s a monster named Serpula Lacrymans, living in your wood, devouring your house bit by bit on the relentless search for water. This is not the beginning of a science fiction movie trailer, it is a very tangible occurrence that happens each and every day in homes all over the world.
Table of Contents
- What is Dry Rot?
- Optimal Conditions for Dry Rot
- Battling the Wood Monster
What is Dry Rot?
You may have heard the term “dry rot” over the years but what is dry rot? Dry rot is a spore, similar to mold, that is indigenous to all wood, even new lumber that you purchase at the lumber yard. Serpula Lacrymans travels through the air and once a tree has been cut down, the spores land on the freshly cut lumber. During transportation, the spores travel from one piece of wood to another. Once the wood arrives in the lumber yard, that’s where the party begins, Serpula Lacrymans travels to the wealth of new real estate.
Optimal Conditions for Dry Rot
The dry rot spore thrives in damp, sheltered wood. If you notice wood that appears or feels soft, and looks wet, hollowed, or loose, this is potentially the devastating dry rot. Dry rot damage is typically found where two pieces of wood connect, such as at the corner of two fascia boards, or around window trim.
Dry rot feeds on water and lignin, the “glue” that holds together wood fibers, so when unsealed wood comes in contact with water, the spores become activated and begin to feed on the lumber, creating soft wood. The Serpula Lacrymans organism has the same goal as most other spores, to thrive and expand. When the spore comes into contact with moisture, even a moisture content as low as 20%, the spore is able to multiply. It spreads, and is able to store nutrients for long periods of time.
While dry rot may present as a white and brown fluffy growth, it tends to hide between the wood grain, ruining the integrity of the wood itself, while trickily remaining undetected. As the stop-at-nothing spore hunts for water, its destructive nature mangles the wood by eating through the Lignin.
The organic polymer, lignin, is composed of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon molecules, bonded together by ionic, and also stronger covalent bonds. This forms wood’s very sturdy cell structure, and keeps it from cracking. The dry rot spores feed on the lignin snack, which provides its carbon source to keep it fueled and alive. After the spore has devoured the tasty water and lignin combination, the result is loose, brittle wood.
Since dry rot lives in all lumber, even new lumber, the risks of a dry rot infestation are common. The dry rot spores constantly hunt for the basics: carbon and water, and they will eat through the wood on your home to find it.
Battling the Wood Monster
The best way to avoid the infestation of dry rot is by properly sealing all exposed wood, especially when wood is cut across the grain and will come into contact with other surfaces.
At Rogall + Co., when we install fresh wood onto a home, we implement a scientifically proven way to slow the progression of dry rot, and stop it dead in its tracks. We utilize a three-step method to protect the wood from water infiltration – we prime, paint, and caulk every joint prior to installation, ensuring that dry rot spores are unable to be activated by water.
Dry rot is common and extremely destructive, but with proper maintenance and preventative care, you can evict that monster from your home and get peace of mind.
