The Ultimate Guide To Wood Rot

When it comes to outdoor wood, a well-known problem is wood rot, however the cause of wood rot, the types of wood rot and how to prevent it are all less commonly known. That is why our experts have put together this ultimate guide to wood rot so you can find everything you need to know in one place.

In this guide we will cover:

• What wood rot is
• How to treat dry rot
• How to treat wet rot
• Step-by-step guide to treating wood rot

What Is Wood Rot?

The first place to start when discussing wood rot is establishing what exactly it is. Rot can generally be classified in two types; dry rot and wet rot.

Dry rot is caused by a fungus called Serpula lacrymans. Dry rot makes wood brittle, cracked and weak. It commonly affects interior timber with around 20% moisture and can be identified by a musty smell, spores and yellowish fungal growth.

Wet rot develops in timber exposed to high moisture (around 50%) over long periods. It mainly found on outdoor wood like fencing and decking, causing the timber to soften, darken, weaken and crack, often with visible water damage or organic growth.

How To Treat Dry Rot

Dry rot can be serious in nature, so it is important to identify the issue quickly to prevent more substantial treatment down the line. Dry rot can be treated by preventing moisture sources, applying fungicides to damaged wood and by making repairs to wood that has already been weakened by the rot.

It is recommended that you contact an expert especially if the dry rot is occurring on structural wood.

How To Treat Wet Rot

Wet rot is caused by prolonged moisture, so the most effective treatment is preventing water from soaking into the timber. Bare wood absorbs large amounts of moisture, especially on fences, decking, sheds and log cabins.

By reducing the amount of moisture absorbed into outdoor wood, you prevent the conditions necessary for wet rot to thrive, reducing the likelihood that wet rot can take hold. While the most effective way to prevent wet rot is to protect new timber, by protecting already weathered timber, you extend its lifespan and ensure that the damaging cycle of weathering is stopped.

To prevent wet rot:

• Use high-quality wood waterproofer
• Choose a product that is water-repellent
• Make sure it’s highly breathable so trapped moisture can escape
• Avoid low-breathability, oil-based coatings that can trap water and cause blistering

Emperor Exterior Wood Waterproofer is a water-repellent, breathable treatment that causes water to bead and run off while allowing moisture to escape. It bonds into the wood using advanced nano technology, creating invisible protection.

Read more: How to prevent wood rot 

A Step-By-Step Guide To Treating Wood Rot

1. Remove surface dirt

When it comes to treating outdoor rotting wood, the first step of the process is to clean off any surface level dirt from the timber. On wood where large amounts of dirt is present, a power washer is the best way to remove these contaminants from the surface. On any timber that has small amounts of dirt, you can wash this down using a soft brush and hot soapy water.

2. Apply a fungicidal cleaner

It is essential to apply a fungicidal cleaner to the wood in order to prevent any fungal growth. Any new wood under the age of 12 months is unlikely to be suffering from fungal growth, so if there is no signs of lichens, mildew or moss, you do not need to treat fungus.

On any wood over the age of 12 months, apply Emperor Exterior Cleaner to the wood and leave this to dry for two hours. After the two hour period, any fungus present on the wood will be killed and the wood is fully clean ready to be treated. If you skip this step, you can run the risk of organic growth blooming on the wood, compromising its appearance.

3. Repairs

Now you have cleaned the wood and ensured there is no fungal growth on the surface, it is time to remove any repairs to the timber if you are treating wood that has suffered from wood rot.

Emperor Wood Waterproofer is an invisible treatment, so it is important to make repairs that are in keeping with the current wood. This can be done using wood fillers or epoxies. These can help to repair any areas that have rotted away, leaving you with wood that looks like new. It is important to remove any dead, rotted wood before you do this, to ensure the structural strength of the timber.

4. Treatment

Emperor Exterior Wood Waterproofer is a easy to apply. thin, clear liquid that can be applied using a brush, roller or a pump-sprayer. Simply apply one-coat of the treatment to the wood at a coverage of 5m² per litre and allow it to dry for 1 hour at 20°C. Take your time applying the product as although it does not leave a finish, you want to ensure you apply it evenly to the wood. After it has had time to dry, the treatment will be completely invisible.

TOP TIP: Masking any surrounding areas such as windows and putting down a dust sheet will ensure you do not get the treatment on anything you do not want to protect, making the clean-up process as easy as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I treat new wood and weathered wood?

By applying a waterproofing coating to outdoor wood, you prevent moisture from entering into the structure through water ingress. This means that you prevent the cycle of rotting that leads to wood becoming damaged. While the best way to treat wood from rotting is to protect it at the earliest possible opportunity before it rots, by protecting wood that has already been weathered you extend its life span and prevent the need to replace the full surface.

We hope we have answered any questions you may have had regarding wood rot. If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch with our team of experts who are on hand to assist you. You can chat to them by emailing [email protected] or calling them on 01254 936121.