How to Handle Dry Rot on Your Roofing System

Your roofing system is one crucial part of your home, it protects your home from unwanted elements such as hailstorms, debris and also adds structural integrity to your home. However, due to the constant contact with unfavorable elements, the roofing system is bound to break down if not maintained regularly. 

Dry rot is one problem that happens to roof systems, especially the wooded part of the roof. In this post, you will get to understand what dry rot is, how to identify it, and how to handle dry rot on your roofing system. Also, get this roofer in Brockton.

What is Dry Rot?

Dry rot is a type of wood decay that is caused by fungi in certain areas of the roof where there is too much moisture content. Dry rot thrives when there are certain enabling conditions such as moisture, warmth, and wood. The fungus can lay bare for long on a roof as it is airborne. It multiplies at a very fast rate and could cause greater damage to the whole roof if not urgently treated. 

Unlike wood rot which is caused by moisture alone, dry rot can be caused by small amounts of moisture. As the fungi start growing, their spores start attacking the wood fiber, splitting it until the wood is soft. 

Ordinarily, most roofing structures are made of wood, including very critical components such as support beams and rafters. Some roofing materials are likewise made of wood. It will be dangerous if dry-rot were to infest such structural components. 

How to Identify Dry Rot

To check for dry rot, you must start your inspection from the areas of your roofing systems that are leaking. If it is the exterior of your roof, you will need to check damaged gutters, blocked downpipes, wooden window sills, and any edges where moisture or water can collect. When you are inspecting the interior part of your roofing system, you will have to check your attics, start your search from areas with moisture and check for broken pipes, invented loft space, or damp drywall as these are the ideal breeding grounds for dry rot. 

The following are signs of dry rot which include:

• Cracking
• Splits
• Discoloration (distinct white color on wood)
• Fragmenting.

To know if you have detected dry rot on a wood, poke the wood with a screwdriver and if it penetrates quite easily or some loose pieces of wood fall off, then there is dry rot. 

How to Handle Dry Rot on Your Roofing System

After finding the damaged wood and the source of the moisture causing the dry rot, you must block all the sources of the water leak and have a professional take a look at those sources and what can be better done to prevent the future occurrences of the same. 

The bad wood must be removed to protect the roofing system and this must be carried out by a professional carpenter. 

Also, you must ensure that your roof is properly ventilated as lack of ventilation causes dry rot.