Dry / Wet Rot

Dry rot and wet rot are fungi that munch on timber, quietly undermining joists, floorboards, and even structural beams while you’re busy admiring the paintwork.

Dry rot shows up when moisture levels spike briefly, then drop—think hidden leak that’s “fixed,” leaving spores free to colonise. The timber becomes brittle, almost cubic, and you might spot a mushroom‑like skin or a musty, cellar smell.

Wet rot, by contrast, thrives where damp sticks around—poor ventilation, blocked gutters, or that basement that never quite dries. The wood turns dark, spongy, and can crumble to the touch. Either flavour means the same headache: compromised structure and a repair bill that grows by the day.