Dealing with damage to your home is always stressful. Whether water damage or missing shingles, you don’t want your home’s roof or siding to have structural issues that look bad and cause safety risks. One common issue that happens to home exteriors is dry rot.
The name sounds contradictory, right? How can something be both dry and rotting? Don’t let its puzzling name distract you, though. dry rot is a severe siding and roofing problem that can quickly spread throughout your home, decimating everything in its path.
Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors is here to shed some light on this troubling topic, from what it is to how to deal with it to how to prevent it from happening in the future.
Dry Rot Defined
This term refers to a wide variety of exterior and interior problems. Still, there’s one undeniable thing: dry rot, to put it bluntly, is a destructive type of mold. While most mold species tend to make pretty localized infestations, types of dry rot are unique because they extend their “roots,” called mycelium, meters away from the central colony. This part of the fungus rapidly drains what it touches of moisture and nutrients. So, unlike some kinds of mold that can be cleaned by removing one small area, dry rot is much more invasive.
That spells bad news for anything it happens to want to feed on. But the good news is that dry rot eats only one thing: wood. While it can reach non-wood objects, it feeds solely on that organic compound, making other materials impervious.
Another big concern that sets dry rot apart is it often appears without any clear water source. But, the name isn’t entirely accurate as dry rot does require some moisture to grow, just like all fungi.
The main difference is dry rot doesn’t need nearly as much excess moisture to thrive as other kinds of mold. Dry rot also has a preferred temperature very similar to those at room temperature, making it a ferocious foe and tough to eliminate.
What Does Dry Rot Look Like?
Again, the term is used rather loosely in the roofing, siding, and interior worlds. Various mold species, all problematic on various scales, can be dubbed “dry rot.”
Though it might be hard to find in some cases, it’s easy to spot if you’re looking straight at it. Look for peeling growths in shades of orange, brown, yellow, or gray. While you’ll often hear dry rot referred to as a brown mold or fungi, it can come in other colors. Some species may resemble foam insulation in everything but texture.
And it goes without saying, but dry rot needs wood to feed on, so you should primarily search for it in pertinent locations like pure wood siding or roofing. Attic structures can also be at risk if a roofing contractor doesn’t adequately maintain your roofing.
How to Spot Dry Rot
Aside from knowing what it looks like, various tools and procedures can help you locate this destructive group of fungi if you worry that your home has a problem.
For one, it often will have a musty smell. You’re more likely to notice this smell in a poorly ventilated space that harbors dry rot, such as your attic. In fact, a lack of ventilation can lead to mold issues, so it’s vital to ensure attics, crawl spaces, and basements are well-ventilated and that they don’t get stuffy. Enclosed spaces are, therefore, the first ones you should check if you fear fungi.
Another sign of dry rot is wood that gives easily when prodded with a screwdriver. It will often flake away in chips, so be careful if you’re using this method to spot dry rot. Though the mold may have already done structural damage, you don’t want to do any more yourself!
Always call a pro for serious mold remediation, as trying to do so on your own can be dangerous; check out the CDC’s website for more information on that topic.
How to Prevent Dry Rot
Proper home maintenance is key to preventing any sort of mold damage, dry rot included. Because it can target interior and exterior home facets, a comprehensive approach is needed to protect your belongings and loved ones.
Here are some ways to prevent dry rot from taking root around your home.
Call a Siding Contractor to Replace Your Wood Siding
As we stated earlier, dry rot only feeds on wood. While mold may grow on other siding types if left in the shade and neglected, they will not have nearly as extensive a damaging potential as dry rot.
If you’re serious about keeping your home in one piece—and who isn’t?—your best bet is to opt for replacement with a reputable siding company immediately if your home is currently clad in wood siding.
Some people are hesitant to replace wood siding as they love the look of it. But, the good news is that other options don’t mean you need to part with the lovely looks wood siding provides.
Many types of vinyl and engineered wood siding have similar appearances while faring much better in terms of fungal defense. They’re also affordable, meaning you don’t need to break the bank to ensure a stable home.
These options are great alternatives to actual timber and will give you peace of mind with the aesthetic you love.
Ensure Your Gutters Are In Good Shape
Your gutters are a crucial component of keeping both your roof and your siding secure and undamaged. Old, broken-down gutters won’t divert water away from your home. Instead, rainwater and any other precipitation can pool around the foundation, siding, or on the roof.
Even clogged gutters from fallen leaves and twigs can pose a risk. Luckily, a gutter repair expert can fix any issues and perform routine maintenance.
Keep Up With Roofing Maintenance
It’s easy for a leaky or poorly ventilated roof to become a hotbed for mold problems. Since you’re probably not up there frequently, fungi can fly under the radar for quite some time before the problems become so severe that they seep into other household areas.
Monitoring is critical, but so is keeping up with storm damage repair and seasonal roofing inspections. To do its job and protect your family while keeping mold out, your roof needs to be in good health, and a roofing pro has this know-how.
The best way to ensure your roofing and siding remains in good shape is to request routine inspections with the experts at Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors.
Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors: Here to Safeguard Your Home
If you have questions about keeping your home free of dry rot, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors is happy to answer them. Whether you need new siding or roof repair, our Sauk Rapids team can provide it. Give us a call today at 320-252-9086.