Everything You Need To Know About Wet Rot Before Booking Your Venue
You’ve heard the horror stories. A week before your wedding the venue floods, or there was a power cut half way through the event or there has been some other disaster that nobody could have predicted. Wet rot is something nobody even thinks of when hiring a property. However wet rot can cause structural damage and nasty smells – something you definitely don’t want on your big day. Here is everything you need to know about wet rot.
What Is Wet Rot?
Wet rot can simply be described as timber wood which decays due to the exposure if moisture or dampness.
Wet rot can occur for a number of reasons:
- Leaky roof
- Burst pipes
- Leaking bath
- Broken washing machine
What Does Wet Rot Look Like?
Different forms of rot can look very similar so it can be difficult to determine if you have wet rot in your property. Timber wood that is affected by wet rot is soft and spongy and is much darker than normal. Common signs of wet rot include:
- Wood is darker or a different colour than usual
- Paint on the exterior of wood can look damaged or cracked
- Soft and damp to touch
- Visible fungus
- Wet rot does not spread – it simply stays within the affected area
- Cracked wood
- Damp smell
What Causes Wet Rot?
As mentioned before wet rot is caused by the exposure of moisture on wood. It mainly comes from flooding and rainfall. However any type of damp can impact the timber in your property. Condensation problems, leaks, penetrating damp and rising damp are all damp issues. You need to be careful and treat wet rot as it can destroy the structure of your home which would lead to unthinkable problems. Fortunately wet rot does not spread through the affected area.
Treatments & Repairs Of Wet Rot
Specialists will come and survey your property and initially determine the source of the moisture if already not found. Once this is done, a damp proof barrier is installed around the affected area, and any area that may be affected in the future, to limit the risk of wet rot occurring again.
Then the specialists will move on to try and repair the damaged timber wood by treating it with a chemical solution to remove the fungus or removing the wood completely if unsalvageable
There are different staged and forms of wet rot and therefore there is not one method to treat wet rot.
Charlotte Dawson is a dessert enthusiast and food writer with a focus on artisanal cakes, homemade confections, and high-tea delicacies. She shares tips on perfecting sponge textures, flavor pairings, and the art of baking with a vintage twist.
