What Causes Dry Rot?

Dry rot is a problem for many different applications in which wood is used. Here are the basics of what causes dry rot and how it spreads.

What Is Dry Rot?

Dry rot is a condition that can affect any type of wood. It is a fungus that can spread throughout the inside of the wood. When this happens, the wood will essentially rot and become very brittle. At this point, the wood is likely to break and crumble into little pieces. This often happens in buildings and can cause catastrophic damage to the structure.

How it Spreads

Dry rot needs moisture in order to grow inside wood. Therefore, in order for it to spread, it will continue to need moisture. When dry rot affects a piece of wood, the rotting part will often fall off. At this point, more of the wood is exposed, which allows dry rot to grow on it as well. Dry rot needs a moisture content in the wood of about 28% to 30% in order to continue growing. Therefore, if you can effectively eliminate the source of the moisture, you will be able to stop the dry rot. You can also use antifreeze or other commercial products to eliminate the dry rot.