If neglected, wood rot can be a silent killer of your home’s structure. Unlike a busted pipe or a major leak, wood rot is a slow-moving menace that can go undetected until it’s too late. It can gnaw away at roof supports and weaken walls from the inside, leaving you with a hefty repair bill. Don’t let this silent assassin take you by surprise – stay vigilant and take action before it’s too late.
Glimpse these signals and if you sense something’s off, whether you’re a homeowner or a buyer, get a licensed home inspector to come check it out ASAP. Don’t wait around, take action!
Sign #1:
Soft wood is a no-go. It can become brittle and snap or disintegrate. It may be concealed by a coat of paint or wallpaper, but carefully and firmly pressing with a screwdriver – or any other metallic tool – can help to uncover it.
Sign #2:
Spreading decay can cause discoloration. It may spread out naturally in a jagged circle, which may occur when a puddle of water is sitting in the same spot on the ceiling. It may be a lengthy streak of discoloration where water is trickling down the inside of the wall. Anything that looks out of the ordinary is a sign of a potential issue.
Sign #3:
Bubbles and cracks in the paint or drywall can be a telltale sign of water seepage. If the paint is covering up rotten wood beams, this surface alteration can be a dead giveaway of what’s going on behind the scenes. Cracks in the paint are a major issue, since paint isn’t just there for looks – it’s there to shield the wood or drywall, which can become more vulnerable to moisture when there are cracks.
Sign #4:
Floorboards can get murky from H2O harm. This could occur, say, if there’s a drip beneath your fridge. You may not spot the liquid oozing out, but peeping underneath with a torch may expose darkened wood, which would be a telltale sign of a possible problem.
Take heed of the atmosphere in your crib. Focus on the wetter parts of the house, like the lavatory, cookhouse, and loft. If you smell something funky, it could be a sign of mold — which could lead to decay or already be a sign of it.
If you think you’ve got a wetness problem in your crib or prospective crib, get in touch with a specialist pronto. As a certified pro, John Pittman is a whiz at sniffing out wood rot and nipping this structural issue in the bud before it gets out of hand.