Start with checking the type of wood rot, dry rot of wet rot. Continue with removing all the rotted wood. Always remove an area greater than the damaged part you can see. Clean the whole surface and treat it with a suitable fungicide. You can purchase some or make it yourself. Add new wood to the parts you have removed. Ensure that the beams under the floor are not damaged.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n In this blog post, I will show the types of rot, and how to spot it. How to fix the floor that is starting to rot will be explained in more detail, and some additional frequently asked questions I get will be answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding the cause of wood rot is the first step to dealing with the menace. The environment we all live in is laden with millions, if not billions, of fungi. Under the right conditions, the fungi cause fungal decay in the timber used in various parts of your house. If left untreated, over time it can even pose a risk to the structural soundness of the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two types of fungal decay are wet rot and dry rot, which must be identified early enough if mitigation is effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wet rot thrives by the fungi feeding on the moisture and wood nutrients, producing spores in the process. On the other hand, it requires moisture to spread. Its presence is characterized by darkened timber that may also be soft and spongy and breaks upon touch, damp, musty odor, localized fungus growth, and wood shrinkage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, dry rot is lethal compared to its wet counterpart and spreads faster. Spreading for dry rot is not water or moisture-reliant, as such. The fungi involved digest part of the wood, mostly the area that gives the wood its strength. It can thrive in poorly ventilated areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To check whether you may have dry rot your wooded floor, poke the wood, preferably using something like a screwdriver. How does it feel? Is the wood spongy? Does the screwdriver go all the way in? That’s how you know that the wood is affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visible signs would include green algae on wood, white or gray growth, mushroom-like body, cracked or peeling paint, and a darker shade of wood compared to the surrounding wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fixing the problem of dry rot will involve either repairing the affected wood or replacing it altogether. The extent of the damage involved dictates this. If the affected area is relatively small, and the parts are not load-bearing. you could treat the area. If the area is bigger, or involves a load, replacing it is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using home remedies is also an option you may consider. This usually involves mixing up household ingredients to come up with makeshift fungicides. The idea is to spray this fungicide on the affected wood to make it hostile to the growth of the rot-causing fungal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you opt to repair the damaged part, you may remove it with the help of a hammer or chisel and a wire brush. In doing so, you’d want to remove as much of the afflicted area as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Injecting an epoxy consolidant also helps a great deal. This can be done via drilled holes, which go a long way in reinforcing the wood fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also use a wood patching product and apply it to the affected wood, which is later shaped by an appropriate tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To fix wood flooring that is starting to rot, use the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensuring all the rotted and potentially rotted wood is removed. While removing the wood, don’t just remove the affected wood. It is advisable to extend to at least three feet beyond the affected area to encompass all the potential areas the rot would spread to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a plank has a lot of damage, I recommend replacing it entirely. Always check the construction under the floor planks. You want to ensure that this part is not damaged. If possible, try to check under the house and check the different beams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleaning the surface of the wood is really important. This helps to ensure that no fungus remains on the wood. Any fungi remaining on the surface have the capability of affecting the wood later again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treating the surface- This is done by applying a fungicide, either industrial or homemade. You can find multiple options in your local hardware store, or online. Try to treat both the top and the bottom of the floor. The bottom in case you can reach it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have removed part of the wood, replace them with new parts. As said before, if the damaged parts are more significant, I recommend replacing the whole plank or planks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In case you have removed only small parts, or even only the surface, you can replace it with epoxy wood filler, or other wood restoration material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.waterandmoistureexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Fix-Wood-Flooring-That-Is-Starting-To-Rot.-What-The-Pros-Say.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nDry Rot And Wet Rot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Wet Rot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Dry Rot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Check If Your Floor Is Starting To Rot?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fix Wood Flooring That Is Starting To Rot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Step 1: Remove all rotted wood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Step 2: Clean the wood surface<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Step 3: Treat the surface<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25cf Step 4: Add new wood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n