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It starts out as a small, crumbly spot on your deck, but before you know it, you see it pop up on your wooden window sills and shutters too. What is this pernicious invader, and how did it spread so quickly? Wood rot manifests itself in various forms. These include dry rot, white rot, and soft rot. Requiring moisture and organic matter to survive, some types of wood rot can even travel over brick and concrete surfaces and, if left untreated, into your home. That’s precisely why Manassas wood rot repair is an invaluable service offered by your Manassas handyman.
Mr. Handyman of Northern Virginia - Arlington to Haymarket is skilled in wood rot treatment for all types of fungus. We know how sneakily this invader can take over the wooden structures inside and outside of your home, which is why at first sight of it, you should seek professional service. Call our customer care team to book today or continue reading to learn more about how we handle wood rot in Manassas, VA.
About Our Manassas Wood Rot Repair Services
Do you suspect you have wood rot on your deck, wooden beams, or exterior window sills? If you don't have visible damage, but you have wooden structures in and around your home, call for an inspection right away. Wood rot is prevalent in Northern Virginia, and spotting it early can help prevent major repairs or replacements. Wood rot can show itself in three main forms. These include:
White Rot
This type of rot eats lignin, which is the structural content of the wood. It will break down lignin but leave cellulose, which gives the wood a white or yellow appearance. This type of rot is stringy and spongy and loves temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll likely find it indoors, so be sure to inspect your attic or door frames regularly.
Brown Rot (Dry Rot)
While called dry rot, brown rot isn’t completely devoid of moisture. In fact, it needs a 20% moisture content to grow. Once it does, it will break down the cellulose in the wood and turn it dark brown. You’ll notice cube-shaped pieces in your wood that will crumble. This is called a cubicle fracture. Dry rot is especially concerning for homeowners as it can travel over other non-wood surfaces. This means if you have wood rot on your deck, no other wooden surface around your home is safe. Eradicating this type completely with dry rot repair is of the utmost importance.
Soft Rot
Areas with fallen trees are ideal for soft rot to grow. It can grow between 0 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, but it does grow very slowly. Soft rot requires an excess moisture content to thrive, and thankfully, if you find it on your deck, it can be removed easily.
Because there are different types of wood rot, you can find it in some form in many different areas around your home. A few of the most common include:
- Wooden decks
- Gate or fence posts
- Attics
- Crawl spaces
- Steps
- Siding
- Fascia
- Soffit
- Doors
- Wood flooring
- Window frames
- Wood trim
Our Manassas Wood Rot Repair Process
If you notice any of the above issues with your wood causing loose railings, crumbly deck posts, and more, you should call for Manassas wood rot repair right away. From stringy off-white fibers to mushroom-like growth, anything that looks fungal about your wood means it needs to be fixed quickly. So, how do we do it?
Inspection & Removal
When you call our qualified team of service professionals, you’re getting a team that’s highly experienced in wood rot repair. Our process, no matter the type of wood rot, is the same and involves cutting away the damaged wood with a special tool. All instances of crumbly wood need to be removed, and this is where our expertise comes in. Because we’re trained to detect even the slightest hint of rot, we’ll know exactly where to carve to ensure it’s eradicated. If not all rotted parts are removed, the decay will come back and take over your wood.
Filling & Reinforcement
Once the area of rot has been cut away, the wood will be left with a hole. We’ll need to fill this to ensure the structural integrity of the wood. Whether it’s a shutter or a beam we’re repairing, if the hole is left, there’s a strong chance that it will break or crack, compromising the support the wood provides. This can be dangerous.
We’ll fill the crack with wood polyester or epoxy wood filler that we’ve mixed and left to harden. The mixture needs to harden to fill the hole successfully. We’ll push the filler into the cut-out area and smooth it over. We’ll then let it set for several hours.
Finishing
Once the filler has hardened completely, we’ll sand it down to create a smooth surface. The color of the filler will match the color of your wood, but we’ll apply a final layer of paint or wood stain to create a flawless finish.
Why Choose Mr. Handyman for Manassas Wood Rot Repair?
Wood rot isn’t a type of damage you can afford to ignore. Due to its fast-spreading and invasive nature, Manassas wood rot repair isn’t something you want to take on yourself. While removing small sections of rot is relatively straightforward, it’s important to get a professional inspection of your entire home if you want to make sure it doesn’t come back.
At Mr. Handyman of Northern Virginia - Arlington to Haymarket, we provide a thorough service for wood rot in Manassas, VA. We understand the nature of the fungus, where to find it, and how to get rid of it correctly. With decades of combined experience, our team of professional contractors can give you total peace of mind over the condition of your home.
Looking for additional service to improve your home? We offer a wide range of interior and exterior repair, maintenance, and remodeling services to get your space into excellent condition. Call today to learn more about our Manassas wood rot repair service or inquire about drywall service, fence repair, exterior door repair or deck repair service. Whatever your improvement project or common repair job you have, count on us to restore your home’s curb appeal and functions.
FAQs About Wood Rot Treatment & Repair
What Causes Wood Rot?
You know what wood rot looks like, and you know how we can help, but you may still be wondering what causes it in the first place. Understanding how wood rot spawns is an important part of preventing it from happening. In short, rot spawns when wood becomes moist. There are multiple types of wood rot, and some don’t require heat to grow. That spells disaster for homes any time of the year in Manassas, but there is some good news too. The type of wood rot that does not require heat to grow also doesn’t spread quickly and is very easy to get rid of.
Wood needs to have at least a 20% moisture content to rot. When wood doesn’t dry properly after rain or excessive water damage, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for rot. Combined with warmth, faster-spreading types of rot can continue to grow with the right conditions, quickly traveling across your wooden surfaces.
What is the Best Material to Repair Rotted Wood?
When repairing wood, the section of rot needs to be cut away. There’s no way around this. Even if you cover up wood rot with paint or pour white vinegar on it, while this may stop the rot from growing temporarily, it may not be enough to eradicate it completely. The best material to use after removing the section of rot is polyester or epoxy filler. These materials will harden over a few hours and create a solid fill that provides support and structure to the existing wood.
What is the Difference Between Wet Rot and Dry Rot?
As you’ve seen, there are multiple types of wood rot. Wet rot and dry rot are just different types of wood rot. Wet rot will have a wet, soggy look, and dry rot will appear dry and crumbly. They both need moisture to grow and thrive.
What are the Four Stages of Dry Rot?
Dry rot is the most concerning type of rot for Manassas homes. This is because it can travel across non-wooden surfaces to reach other areas of your home. If you have dry rot in one place, you’ll likely find it in another. There are four stages this tricky fungus goes through.
- Spore
- Hyphae
- Mycelium
- Fruiting Body
If you’re thinking that dry rot has the same process as a mushroom, you’re right. Both are types of fungi. It’s important to catch dry rot before it reaches the final fruiting stage, as this is where it begins to spread its spores.
Manassas Wood Rot Repair Near Me: Mr. Handyman Is The Professional, Local Team You Can Trust
Perhaps you have noticed a current infestation of wood rot in and around your home. If you have wooden structures, you should call our company for an expert inspection. Catching rot in its early stages can help prevent its spread, which also means you’ll steer clear of costly repairs and structural damage. Mr. Handyman of Northern Virginia - Arlington to Haymarket is proud to serve locals in Westchester, Alexandria, Burke, and the surrounding zip codes. Call our friendly customer service team or use the online contact form to schedule service today.
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