Top 3 Sure Signs of Rotting Wood You Should Be Aware Of 

The need for foundation repair is one of the most alarming developments for a homeowner. In many cases, it is discovered during a real estate home inspection.

This leaves the homeowner with a responsibility to spend tens of thousands on a foundational repair. Without repairing it, you cannot sell the home and it is no longer safe to live there.

Rotting wood is one of the common indicators that your home needs foundational repair. Any indication of rotten wood should be addressed immediately.

Read on to learn how to spot rotting wood. Explore three signs of rotting wood that help you recognize it as soon as possible.

1. Musty Smell

Do you have a damp or musty odor in certain areas of your house? This is one of the most obvious signs of an issue.

You are going to smell these damp conditions before visibly identifying an issue. This provides you with an opportunity to minimize damage.

The musty smell means that moisture has penetrated the wood. However, it does not necessarily mean that dry rot conditions have set in.

2. Growth

There are many types of growths that form on rotted wood. Mycelium growth is a common example.

This type of growth presents itself as a white or grayish woolly substance. It spreads quickly and extensively looking for new food sources. In this case, wood is the food source and mycelium growth spreads like wildfire.

Fruiting bodies, or sporophores, is another common type of growth. Many observers think that fruiting bodies have a pizza-like appearance.

The red spores often take a round shape. Many homeowners find red spore dust on the floor or other surfaces.

This is an early indication that fruiting bodies are spreading throughout your wood surfaces. Worse yet, the presence of spores can be harmful to your health.

3. Wood Damage

Wood damage is alarming to homeowners because it means you are out of time. Wet and dry rotting are the two specific types that ultimately cause damage.

In dry rotting, moisture is removed from the wood. It becomes dry and brittle. Sometimes, the wood noticeably shrinks or warps.

Pieces of wood now break off easily with little human effort. The wood may crumble in your hands or you can poke holes through it. You may also notice little cracks in the wood.

Out of the two, dry rot is the more serious condition. Dry rot is known to spread more extensively than wet rot.

Wet rot has a soft and spongy feel to it. There may be a black fungus visible on the wood’s exterior.

At this stage of wood rotting, it is imperative to hire foundational repair services. Websites like Luxcando.com can set you up with experienced professionals to treat damaged wood.

Three Common Signs of Rotting Wood

Rotten wood is a major issue and needs to be addressed immediately. Noticing a musty smell or seeing red spores on the floor are signs of an issue. If you notice any of these signs, do not hesitate to contact a service professional.

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