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Dry Rot & Brown Rot Removal from Basements & Crawl Spaces

Dry rot (also known as brown rot) is one of the most severely damaging decaying forces on household wood in the world. Approximately 20 billion board feet of timber are destroyed by wood rot in the United States each year-- far more destroyed wood than is damaged annually by fire!

Replacement wood used to repair damage caused by wood rot accounts for almost 10 percent of the annual wood production in the U.S. alone.

In the United Kingdom, dry rot problems have been credited for dealing about 150 million pounds worth of damage annually, and wood rot in general leads to about 17 billion dollars of damage each year in the United States.

Foundation Recovery Systems has a long history of experience in eliminating, preventing, and controlling dry rot infestations.

We serve homes throughout the Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, including Kansas City, Independence, Columbia, St. Joseph, Bolivar, Rolla, Kirksville, Trenton, Chillicothe, Sedalia, Hannibal, Jefferson City, MO; Mt. Ayr, Centerville, Leon, IA and many nearby areas.

If you have a dry rot problem in your home, call or e-mail us today for a free dry rot removal and control estimate!

What is Dry Rot & Brown Rot?

"Dry Rot" is a term most often used to describe a particular kind of dry, cracking, rotting wood. However, dry rot occurs because of a variety of brown rot species, most notably the "true" dry rot fungus known as Serpula lacrymans. It originally got its name from the thought that it did not need water to survive and used a fermentation process to survive. This has long since been proven untrue, and it is now called, more appropriately, "brown rot", although the old name hangs on.

However, dry rot needs much less moisture than other types of wood rotting fungi -- a wood moisture content of at least 28-30% -- to survive. While there is no official proof on the subject, many contractors have observed that dry rot also will not grow on wood with too much moisture.

Architect's Journal reports that dry rot can grow through damp mortar, concrete, masonry and behind plaster to establish itself in other areas of the building. This can make treatment of dry rot complicated and expensive, and it can mean that future problems with dry rot can arise unless the cause of the problem is addressed first.

Protect Your Home From Dry Rot!
The Bad News	The Good News
While dry rot is not the most common type of rot, it can deal serious damage to your home and endure conditions that are too dry for other types of rot to thrive. In fact, up to a 75% loss in the toughness of the wood [PDF] is possible with just a 1% decrease in the wood's weight of the wood. Dry rot fungus spores are present in most homes and can survive for several years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Dry rot can pull moisture from moist areas to dry areas. It grows through mortar, concrete, masonry, and behind plaster.	Despite its name, dry rot needs moisture to produce spores-- at least 28-30% moisture content within the wood with a relative humidity of 95% or higher. Most softwood timbers in dry homes, especially in the upper levels, have a moisture content of 12-15%. Dry rot problems in basements and crawl spaces can easily be solved by controlling moisture by sealing and dehumidifying the space. Treatment of the wood with fungicides and products such as boric acid are known to eliminate and prevent dry root fungi.

Treating Dry Rot or Brown Rot Problems in Missouri, and Iowa

A common first indication of dry rot in a home is the appearance of a "red brick dust". As the wood cracks and deteriorates, it's not uncommon for homeowners to mistake the dry rot damage for termite damage. However, while damp and rotting wood is more likely to damage termites, having dry rot does not mean that there is a termite infestation.

This is actually an accumulation of fungal spores that are covering the surface, waiting for the proper conditions to start to grow.

An outbreak of dry rot commonly occurs several months after a household water event, such as flooding, bursting washing machine hoses, a failed water heater, or leaking pipes.

Dry rot is also common in vented crawl spaces and basements with groundwater flooding.

1. Remove all wood that shows decay or visible fungus, as well as all wood within one meter of the visible decayed material.


2. Remove all plaster, paneling, linings, and ceilings around the dry rot areas.


3. Using a wire brush, clean off all surfaces, including metal and pipes, within 1.5 meters of the furthest edge of the infection.


4. Clean up all dust and debris from the work.


5. Apply a fungicide to all masonry, concrete, and exposed dirt in the area. Apply two coatings of fungicide to all wood surfaces within 1.5 meters from the damage.


6. Replace wood rot infected timbers with fungicide-treated wood.

Preventing Dry Rot in a Basement: Remove all standing water sources, then install a plastic vapor barrier on the walls and floors. Install a self-draining dehumidifier powerful enough to dry the area. (At least a 100-liter model)

Preventing Dry Rot in a Crawl Space: Seal off all crawl space vents and door covers. Encapsulate the crawl space with a crawl space liner, than install a self-draining crawl space dehumidifier.

Preventing Dry Rot Problems in Your Basement or Crawl Space

Foundation Recovery Systems can help you eliminate dry rot problems at their source. We can dry your basement or crawl space, eliminate flooding problems, and seal out outside humidity.

This not only eliminates dry rot problems, but also creates an environment that's inhospitable to mold, wet rot, and mildew, as well as keeping out termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, crickets, and other household pests.

We offer FREE, no-obligation dry basement and crawl space quotes in all our service areas. We can answer all your questions and point out the sources of humidity and moisture in your home.

Call or e-mail us today to get started on a healthier, better-preserved home!

Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing in Missouri, Illinois & Iowa. See Full Service Area

Cities in Wyandotte County, KS
Kansas City

Cities in Andrew County, MO
Amazonia
Bolckow
Cosby
Fillmore
Helena
Rea
Rosendale
Savannah

Cities in Audrain County, MO
Benton City
Farber
Laddonia
Martinsburg
Mexico
Rush Hill
Thompson
Vandalia

Cities in Bates County, MO
Adrian
Amoret
Amsterdam
Butler
Drexel
Foster
Rich Hill

Cities in Benton County, MO
Cole Camp
Ionia
Lincoln

Cities in Boone County, MO
Ashland
Centralia
Columbia
Hallsville
Harrisburg
Hartsburg
Rocheport
Sturgeon

Cities in Buchanan County, MO
Agency
De Kalb
Easton
Faucett
Rushville
Saint Joseph

Cities in Caldwell County, MO
Braymer
Breckenridge
Cowgill
Hamilton
Kidder
Kingston
Polo

Cities in Callaway County, MO
Auxvasse
Fulton
Holts Summit
Kingdom City
Mokane
New Bloomfield
Portland
Steedman
Tebbetts
Williamsburg

Cities in Carroll County, MO
Bogard
Bosworth
Carrollton
De Witt
Hale
Norborne
Tina

Cities in Cass County, MO
Archie
Belton
Cleveland
Freeman
Garden City
Harrisonville
Peculiar
Pleasant Hill
Raymore

Cities in Chariton County, MO
Brunswick
Dalton
Keytesville
Mendon
Rothville
Salisbury
Sumner
Triplett

Cities in Clay County, MO
Excelsior Springs
Holt
Kansas City
Kearney
Liberty
Smithville
Gladstone

Cities in Clinton County, MO
Cameron
Gower
Lathrop
Plattsburg
Trimble
Turney

Cities in Cole County, MO
Centertown
Jefferson City
Lohman
Russellville
Saint Thomas

Cities in Cooper County, MO
Blackwater
Boonville
Bunceton
Otterville
Pilot Grove
Prairie Home
Wooldridge

Cities in Daviess County, MO
Altamont
Coffey
Gallatin
Jameson
Jamesport
Lock Springs
Pattonsburg
Winston

Cities in Dekalb County, MO
Amity
Clarksdale
Maysville
Osborn
Stewartsville
Union Star
Weatherby

Cities in Gasconade County, MO
Bland
Hermann
Morrison
Mount Sterling
Owensville
Rosebud
Boone

Cities in Gentry County, MO
Albany
Darlington
Gentry
King City
Mc Fall
Stanberry

Cities in Grundy County, MO
Galt
Laredo
Spickard
Trenton

Cities in Harrison County, MO
Bethany
Blythedale
Cainsville
Eagleville
Gilman City
Hatfield
Martinsville
New Hampton
Ridgeway

Cities in Henry County, MO
Blairstown
Calhoun
Clinton
Creighton
Deepwater
Montrose
Urich
Windsor

Cities in Howard County, MO
Armstrong
Fayette
Franklin
Glasgow
New Franklin

Cities in Jackson County, MO
Blue Springs
Buckner
Grain Valley
Grandview
Greenwood
Independence
Kansas City
Lees Summit
Lone Jack
Oak Grove
Sibley
Raytown

Cities in Johnson County, MO
Centerview
Chilhowee
Holden
Kingsville
Knob Noster
Leeton
Warrensburg
Whiteman Air Force Base

Cities in Lafayette County, MO
Alma
Bates City
Concordia
Corder
Dover
Higginsville
Lexington
Mayview
Napoleon
Odessa
Waverly
Wellington

Cities in Linn County, MO
Brookfield
Browning
Bucklin
Laclede
Linneus
Marceline
Meadville
New Boston
Purdin

Cities in Livingston County, MO
Chillicothe
Chula
Dawn
Ludlow
Mooresville
Utica
Wheeling

Cities in Macon County, MO
Anabel
Atlanta
Bevier
Callao
Elmer
Ethel
Excello
La Plata
Macon
New Cambria

Cities in Mercer County, MO
Mercer
Princeton

Cities in Moniteau County, MO
California
Clarksburg
Fortuna
High Point
Jamestown
Latham
Tipton

Cities in Montgomery County, MO
Bellflower
High Hill
Jonesburg
Montgomery City
New Florence
Rhineland
Wellsville

Cities in Morgan County, MO
Barnett
Florence
Stover
Syracuse
Versailles

Cities in Osage County, MO
Bonnots Mill
Chamois
Freeburg
Linn
Loose Creek
Westphalia

Cities in Pettis County, MO
Green Ridge
Houstonia
Hughesville
La Monte
Mora
Sedalia
Smithton

Cities in Platte County, MO
Camden Point
Dearborn
Edgerton
Kansas City
Platte City
Riverside
Weston

Cities in Putnam County, MO
Lucerne
Powersville
Unionville

Cities in Randolph County, MO
Cairo
Clark
Clifton Hill
Higbee
Huntsville
Jacksonville
Moberly

Cities in Ray County, MO
Camden
Hardin
Henrietta
Lawson
Orrick
Rayville
Richmond

Cities in Saline County, MO
Blackburn
Gilliam
Malta Bend
Marshall
Miami
Nelson
Slater
Sweet Springs

Cities in Sullivan County, MO
Green Castle
Green City
Harris
Humphreys
Milan
Newtown
Pollock
Winigan

Cities in Worth County, MO
Denver
Grant City
Sheridan
Worth

Cities in Pulaski County, MO
Dixon

Cities in Phelps County, MO
Dillon

Cities in Maries County, MO
Vienna

Please call us at: 1-888-399-2945

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