Have I got dry rot? What should I do next?

[michaeld121]

Over the summer my hot water cylinder sprung a tiny leak. When I noticed it (probably after a month or 2) I had it replaced asap (about

2 1/2 weeks ago). The cylinder is in our kitchen & the wood floor, which was wet, dried up after a few days. However there's now a musty smell in the cupboard which is the other side of the wall from the water cylinder...

I've left the cupboard doors open & lifted the (50 year old) lino flooring but the smell doesn't seem to be going away. The floorboards & skirting appear dry & sound. My big worry is that we've got dry rot under the floorboards. (The boards are part of a suspended floor over a roughly 2 foot high, ventilated void in an Edwardian house).

I'm not sure if I should charge ahead, rip up the floorboards, run down to B&Q & buy a chemical treatment or having read Jeff Howell (the Daily Telegraph's buildings correspondent ) it seems that as the wood appears sound & I've stopped the leak - maybe I don't need to panic? Should I call a builder straight in?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Michael

[michaeld121]

Apologies - I've just noticed the other current thread about dry rot.

My situation is slightly different in that I'm reasonably confident that I've stopped the source of the leak. Also I haven't found any fungus (yet) - all I've got is a musty smell that's worrying me.

Michael

[Andy Hall]

It's quite likely that in a couple of weeks that the underlying area has not really fully dried out and that you simply need to wait a while.

It would also be surprising for dry rot to have established itself in a month or two unless there is another source of moisture or lack of ventilation.

At this point I would do four things:

- Continue to allow the cupboard etc. to dry out.

- Remove one section of floorboard in the cupboard and near the cylinder and take a look under the floor - if nothing else for peace of mind.

- Go outside and check that all air bricks are clear

- Check that the damp proof course isn't bridged by outside ground level being too high.

[Fitz]

Firstly let me clarify that I've never experienced dry rot first hand.

What I would say is that if it was me I'd certainly lift the floorboards to see what is going on underneath. If there is a damp smell, something is causing it.

Although I havn't experienced dry rot, I have experienced wet rot in the form of rotten joists in a suspended floor. In my case the water was from penetrating damp due to a bridged damp proof course and the fact that the joists were in physical contact with the wall. I lifted the whole floor (causing my wife to cry...) removed the rotten wood and left it for weeks to dry out (more crying...).

The damp smell persisted for ages until I swept up the loose floor covering, a dusty covering over the 'blinding layer' of concrete. Removing this dusty layer removed the smell. After that was gone the floor was gloriously smell free and utterly delightful.

I replaced all the timber with pressure treated stuff and ensured the damp proof course was no longer bridged, removing the cause. (at this point the crying stopped)

I'm not a betting man, but from what I've read and been told, true dry rot is actually quite rare. Still worth visually inspecting it in my opinion, but wait until you know what the situation is before engaging a specialist or buying any expensive treatments.

[The Natural Philosopher]

That will go as things dry out. Give it time.

By and large, rot stops when humidity goes down below a critical level.

The mustiness slowly fades.

A lot of 'mustoiness' may not in fact be wood rot as such - just mildews on the surfaces of things.

[michaeld121]

Thanks for all of the advice - reading it I'm less worried than I was.

be wet rot than dry rot, but I'll lift the floorboards in the cupboard in the next day or so to get a better look.

As recommended - I've cleaned all of the airbricks & I've also partially opened the access to the void to give more ventilation.

Thanks,

Michael