Part of Ward Property Services UK LtdWet rot is the general term for several fungi, most commonly Coniophora puteana, that decay timber kept persistently wet. Unlike dry rot it does not spread into dry material, so damage remains confined to the wetted area. That makes it less alarming but no less important — decayed joist ends, window sills and door frames lose structural strength and let more water in.
The vulnerable places in Surrey homes are predictable: the bottom rails of painted timber windows, external door thresholds, bay window sills, joist ends built into damp external walls and timber in poorly ventilated sub-floor voids. We deal with all of these, prioritising repair of sound timber over wholesale replacement wherever it is practical.
Common signs
- ✓ Soft, spongy timber that gives when pressed with a screwdriver
- ✓ Dark brown or black discolouration and cracking along the grain
- ✓ Flaking paint on window frames with soft wood underneath
- ✓ Springy floorboards near an external wall
- ✓ A damp, earthy smell in a sub-floor void
Likely causes
- • Leaking gutters and downpipes soaking adjacent joinery
- • Failed window and door seals and defective sills
- • Penetrating damp at joist bearing positions
- • Condensation in unventilated roof and floor voids
- • Splash-back from hard landscaping against timber elements