Dry Rot Investigation

Despite its name, dry rot requires water as much as any other wood rotting fungus. Since its introduction into Britain in the seventeenth century, it has developed a reputation for spreading rapidly in humid spaces that mimic its original Himalayan forest habitat, especially in damp older properties with concealed spaces, such as wall linings and floor voids where airbricks have been blocked. The warmer, wetter seasons which climate change is bringing are increasing the risk of dry rot and other wood rotting fungi and moulds in historic buildings, with health risks for occupants and the possibility of structural damage.

Robin Kent Architecture & Conservation has advised on many rot outbreaks and always aims to eliminate them at source, ie by cutting off the water supply and increasing ventilation so that the fungi die naturally, rather than introducing harmful chemicals and destroying valuable historic timbers. As well as being less disruptive, this minimum intervention approach is generally more economic than alternatives.