Any experienced homeowner knows that regular maintenance needs to be done on a home so as to avoid big, costly repairs later on. Wood which is used in many areas of a home’s construction is one area that needs maintenance because, with time, it could start to deteriorate. One reason this can happen is wood decay, also known as wood rot. Not to be confused with carpenter ant or termite damage, wood rot is a type of fungus which affects wood. Wood rot is pretty hardy and has the ability to survive a lot of conditions, although it really thrives in damp, warm places.
To survive, wood rot will need 3 things: oxygen, a food source and moisture. When we think about it, there are numerous places in and around a property that provide these things. This means that you can find wood rot in many areas of your home. Here is a list of some vulnerable areas:
Outdoor decking on ground level and decking support posts
Foundation cracks or areas surrounding the foundations which have pooling water due to inadequate grading on the property
Wood that comes in direct contact with masonry, concrete or soil
Wood beneath windows or underneath poorly installed sliding doors
Roof penetrations with damaged or incorrect flashing
Sub flooring surrounding toilets and bathtubs
Areas around corroded plumbing fixtures and plumbing leaks
As you can see, there are a lot of areas of a home potentially vulnerable to wood rot. If this is something you are worried about, why not schedule an inspection? This way you can deal with the problem before it becomes a too large.
