Dry rot is the result of excessive moisture and very little ventilation, not to be confused with wet rot, which is the result of being close to the source of wetness, such as a leaky pipes. Dry rot is also more harmful to a property as it feeds off of the wood nearby and will spread throughout the foundation and structure of the property. With the amount of rain the lands in Portland in the fall, winter and spring, it is no surprise that dry rot is a common problem in the area.
Repairing dry rot can be fairly easy if the rot hasn’t spread very far. There are several gel or paste treatments that you can find at your local hardware store that you can apply to begin killing the dry rot. Be sure to follow directions on whatever treatment you get to ensure reapplication is done if required.
Once the dry rot has been cured, you will need to repair the damaged area and repaint. Depending on the extent of the damage, most repairs can be done by using a polyester filling to rebuild the rotted wood. Once the filler has been molded to the rotted areas, you will want to repaint the area to cover up the repair work. Be sure to pick up some dry rot paint to cover this repaired area. This paint is specifically designed to prevent dry rot, and is highly recommended in areas that have already been effected by dry rot.
Tim Hayes