How Wood Rot Impacts Your Foundation
Wood rot might not seem like a huge deal at first. However, you shouldn’t ignore this problem. If left untreated, wood rot could lead to serious structural damage that costs tens of thousands of dollars to repair. That’s because it feeds on the wooden components that support your home.
Below, learn more about damaged wood from wood rot, what you can do about it, and when to call in a professional.
What Is Wood Rot?
Wood rot is a fungus that consumes wet or damp wood. It’s often present in basements, crawl spaces, and other areas with moist conditions.
When the wood in your home is exposed to excess moisture, it becomes vulnerable to wood rot. That’s why you need to create a dry environment in your property. Otherwise, wood rot can weaken wooden components like beams, support posts, and floors, leaving them soft and spongy. Eventually, these elements can break down, compromising your home’s structural stability.
Signs of Wood Rot
Wood rot can be hard to detect. Sometimes, affected wood appears slightly cracked or darker than normal, or you might notice a musty smell in your home. However, you may not see or smell anything at all.
There are more obvious signs that indicate you have excess moisture in your property, such as:
- Bowing walls
- Crawl space drainage problems
- Bouncy floors
- Sagging floors
If you notice wood rot or anything listed above, call in a professional like Groundworks. We can identify the cause of your moisture problem and fix it with our custom-engineered solutions.
Types of Wood Rot
There are three main kinds of wood rot:
- Soft rot/wet rot: This starts within the inner cavities of wood and causes decomposition at a slower pace than other types of wood rot.
- Brown rot: Also called dry rot, this fungus breaks down the cellulose in wood, causing it to crack and eventually split.
- White rot: The most aggressive type of wood rot, white rot not only breaks down wood’s cellulose but damages its lignin. As a result, wood decomposition can happen quickly.
What Happens If You Ignore Wood Rot?
The sooner you address wood rot, the better. When wood starts to break down, it can’t support your home’s structure, potentially threatening your foundation. Some buildings fall apart if they have problems with damaged wood.
Wood rot can cause other issues in your home. When wood decomposes, cracks may appear in the material, exposing your property to the elements. Pests and bacteria could also enter through these gaps.
How To Get Rid of Wood Rot
It’s difficult to remove wood rot without an expert.
Quick fixes might solve the problem temporarily. However, wood rot can return unless you tackle the root cause, which is usually excess moisture in your home.
Groundworks helps you control wood rot and prevent it from coming back with our waterproofing products. These include:
Our products manage excess moisture in your property, so you can create a drier and safer living space.
Groundworks can also help if wood rot has already caused your wooden components to deteriorate. For example, our crawl space jacks stabilize sagging and bouncy floors from damaged wood beams, restoring your home’s structural integrity.
Rely on Groundworks To Solve Your Wood Rot Problem
Don’t let damaged wood from wood rot jeopardize your home and family’s safety. Our waterproofing solutions keep your property dry and healthy, helping you preserve your foundation and property’s worth.
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