While dry rot may not appear threatening, this silent, subtle menace lurking in the walls can wreak great havoc on the structure of the entire home. Dry rot is usually caused by a fungus that attacks wood. This fungus only thrives in the presence of moisture, and as such, dry rot often occurs when a plank of wood is exposed to excessive moisture. This can be due to several factors, such as roof leakages, window leakages, or condensation.
The fungus can destroy even the strongest wood by gradually breaking down the cellulose in the wood. Consequently, the wood begins to weaken and rot. And this can spread quickly through all the wood in the multi-family structure if left untreated. Eventually, the wood could collapse, causing partial or complete destruction of the entire building structure.
Due to the nature of the potential havoc caused by dry rot, it can make affected buildings highly unsafe for habitation. If it is discovered early, the damage can be fixed by a professional. In some cases, the repair of apartments affected by dry rot could involve changing the entire wood in the structure. And this can incur a lot of financial expenses for the house owner. It is good to invite a professional to inspect your wood immediately after you notice the early signs of dry rot, such as wood discoloration, holes in the wood, cracks along the grain, and more.
