Wet and dry rot treatment in South Yorkshire
Wet rot and dry rot are fungi that break down timber kept damp, in floors, joists, skirting boards and window frames. We are a family firm in Rotherham, working across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, and we find the damp behind the rot, replace the timber it has weakened and treat the timber around it so it does not spread.
- Family-run
- Over 30 years in the trade
Signs to look for
Signs of wet and dry rot
Rot often starts out of sight, under a floor or behind a skirting board, so the first sign may be a smell or a soft spot.
Soft, spongy timber
Wood that a screwdriver sinks into easily, often darker than the timber around it.
Timber cracked into small cubes
Wood that has dried out after rotting splits along and across the grain and crumbles.
White growth like cotton wool
With grey strands spreading over timber or brickwork, a sign of dry rot.
Rust-red dust
Spores from a dry rot fruiting body, a flat, pancake-like growth.
A damp, mushroom smell
Often noticed before any rot can be seen.
Floors that dip, bounce or creak
Joists under the floor may have rotted where they rest on a damp wall.
What causes it
What causes rot
Rot is a fungus, and it only starts in timber that has stayed damp for some time. Find the damp and you have found the cause: a leak, rising damp, rain getting in, or a floor with too little air under it.
- Wet rot
- The more common kind. It stays where the timber is wet and stops once it dries, though the wood it has damaged stays weak.
- Dry rot
- Less common but more serious. It needs damp timber to start, then can send strands through brickwork and behind plaster to reach timber some way off.
- Floors and joist ends
- Suspended floors are at risk when their air bricks are blocked, and joist ends built into a damp wall are often the first timber to go. Both are part of timber treatment.
How we find the cause
We find the source of the damp
Rot is the symptom. Treating the timber without fixing the damp means paying for it twice.
We find which rot it is
Wet rot and dry rot are treated differently, and dry rot needs dealing with more widely.
We find where the damp comes from
Leaks, rising or penetrating damp, condensation, and blocked air bricks under the floor.
We check how far it has spread
In the timber you can see and, where there is access, under floors and behind skirting boards.
We explain what needs doing
What is urgent and what is not, and a free quote for the work, with no obligation.
Talk to us about wet and dry rot
Rot is priced on how much timber has to come out and what caused it, so we do not publish a price list.
- Based in Rotherham, working across South Yorkshire and nearby
- Most jobs take one to five days
- Our treatments come with a guarantee. Ask us about the terms for your job.
Treatment
How we treat wet and dry rot
The cause first, then the timber, then the timber around it.
Why fix it properly
Why it is worth acting quickly
Your floors
Rotten joists sag and can give way, and the floor above can go with them.
Your money
Rot caught early may mean a few lengths of timber. Dry rot left to spread can reach whole rooms.
Your sale
Rot found by a buyer's survey can hold up a sale or bring down the price.
Reviews
In our customers’ words
More reviews, or read every one on Google (opens in a new tab) and Trustpilot (opens in a new tab)
Questions
Questions about wet and dry rot
Not covered here? Ask us. A photo of what you have noticed helps.
What is the difference between wet rot and dry rot?
Both are fungi that break down damp timber. Wet rot stays where the timber is wet and stops once it dries. Dry rot can spread through brickwork and behind plaster to reach timber some way off, so it is more serious and is treated over a wider area.
How much does it cost to treat wet or dry rot?
It depends on which rot it is, how much timber needs replacing and what is causing the damp, so we price each job on what we find. Dry rot is treated over a wider area, so it is usually the bigger job, and lifting floors, taking off plaster or moving fitted units add to the work. The quote is free and sets out exactly what it covers.
How do I spot dry rot?
Look for white growth like cotton wool, grey strands spreading over timber or brickwork, a flat, pancake-like growth, rust-red dust, and timber cracked into small cubes. A damp, mushroom smell is often the first sign.
Can dry rot spread through walls?
Yes. Dry rot can grow through brickwork and behind plaster to reach timber some way from where it started, which is why the timber around it is treated as well.
Does rot stop when the timber dries out?
Wet rot does, though the timber it has damaged stays weak. Dry rot can lie dormant and start again if the timber gets damp, which is another reason to fix the damp and treat the timber around it.
Do you replace rotten timber?
Yes. Rotten timber is cut out and replaced with timber that has been treated against rot, and a preservative is applied to the timber around it. With dry rot the walls nearby may need time to dry out before they are re-plastered, and we tell you what to expect.
Can rotten floor joists be repaired?
It depends how far the rot has gone. Where a joist has lost its strength it is replaced, and sometimes only a rotten section needs cutting out and replacing. Either way, the damp that caused it has to be fixed first.
Why do air bricks matter?
They let air flow through the space under a timber floor, which keeps the joists dry. Air bricks blocked by soil, paving or a raised patio are a common cause of rot in floors, so we check they are clear.
Not sure what you are looking at? Send us a photo.
A picture of the wall, floor or timber helps us understand the problem.
or call 07579 009 735, or see all the ways to reach us
