How to Repair Deck Dry Rot

How to Prevent Deck Dry Rot

Its spring time again and as the snow melts off the deck you will probably see areas of dry rot that will need some tender loving care. Dry rot doesn’t appear every year but when it does it can be tricky to deal with. The term dry rot is deceiving since it's not dry at all and occurs due to excess moisture.

Actually dry rot is a fungus which can cause mildew, mold, staining, or decay in most wood decking. Micro-organisms remove cellulose from the timber making it brittle and vulnerable. And like with any fungus all that's required are some heat, moisture, dirt, and a dark place to grow. Being buried in snow for several months provides the ideal growing place.

Outdoor wood decking and wooden porches that are built in extreme weather regions where there are hot, humid summers, and wet, foggy fall and spring seasons present the prime conditions for wood decay. If the dry rot isn't detected and removed immediately, it could spread like a bad rash and create even more damage and more costly repairs.

Dry rot is identified by a grayish color and covers surfaces in long sheets of mold or the wood will simply look dark and decayed. In this case, it's important to determine if its fungus or pests causing the damage. Sometimes it could be a combination of both since dry rot can attract termites and other wood-eating insects.

Inspecting for Dry Rot:

Though we usually associate dry rot with an outdoor environment it can occur inside the house as well: under sinks, around windows, within shower stalls, on door frames, in attics. It most often occurs in the thresholds between the house interior and exterior because it thrives on moisture. Before looking for a solution try to find every trace of it so it doesn't continue to grow and enter the inside of the house.

You can hire a professional to conduct a thorough inspection of your deck to determine just how large of a repair job is necessary. But as a DIY homeowner you can easily do this task yourself. Why pay someone else to do a task you can quite easily do yourself. Look for mold on the deck surface, edges, and underneath. Pay particular attention where the deck support post may contact the ground.

How to Repair Dry Rot:

If the dry rot has not penetrated too deeply into the wood surface you may be able to get away with just cleaning it and apply a deck sealer. If the dry rot has deeply penetrated the wood then all the areas that show dry rot must be removed and replaced. This is not as difficult as it may sound. Simply remove the boards that are affective and replace them with new decking. After all the repairs are completed you will need to reseal the entire deck.

Prevent Deck Dry Rot:

Eliminate the source of the problem so it doesn't happen again. Look for water leakage in and outside the home, especially around hoses and faucets. Inspect your gutter system for proper alignment and drainage. Check the eaves to see if the gutters are correctly installed. Insure your sprinkler system is appropriately placed and not spreading water on your deck. Ensuring the deck is clean from dirt to prevent a fertile place for the rot to reappear. Treat the deck with a deck sealer preservative at least every other year to help seal it and keep the moisture out.

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