Dry Rot Repair & Structural Restoration
Maintaining The Safety and Structural Integrity Of All Public Areas
Structural damage diminishes the ability of any building to maintain sound structural integrity. Often, these conditions exist undetected or hidden behind siding systems and envelope assemblies, deteriorating rough framing and plywood sheathing from the inside out.
Rough framing and most structural components are not readily observable. Increasing damage to framing members can continue to progress for years before most building owners become aware of the issue.
What is dry rot?
Dry rot is like a sickness that can happen to wood. Just like we can get sick from germs, wood can get sick from a type of fungus. This fungus likes to eat the wood, which can make it weak and crumbly. So if you see wood that’s really dry and crumbly, it might have dry rot.
It’s important to get rid of dry rot so it doesn’t spread, make the wood fall apart, and create a very unstable structure.
When dry rot is present, some level of structural restoration is necessary to preserve building value and maintain building safety.
What Does Dry Rot and Structure Failure Mean For Building Occupants?
Dry rot and structural issues can place occupants at risk. These conditions can be an eminent threat to their well being and safety. The moisture intrusion needed for the growth cycle of dry rot can also lead to unhealthy environmental conditions for building occupants.
The moisture can foster mold and mildew growth that can place occupants and tenants at risk of respiratory issues. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses may get serious infections when exposed to mold.
Compromised structures can also be a safety concern for building occupants. When wooden framing members lose structural integrity, it can lead to full or partial structural failure. Structural failure can lead to building collapse.
Structural Restoration: How can property managers and building owners spot early signs of damage?
Building owners, maintenance staff, and property management professionals can proactively examine buildings for signs of underlying (hidden) structural fatigue or decay caused by wood destroying fungus, commonly referred to as dry rot. Fungus infection and wood destroying insects are a wood framed building’s biggest threat of structure damage.
Water Damage Over Time Is A Clear Indicator That Structural Decay Is On The Way
- Cracking drywall or siding
- Compression or buckling of interior/exterior surfaces
- Poor fit and operation of windows and doors
- Paint failure and lack of adherence
- The appearance of wood destroying insects
- Out-of-level floors
- Areas of foliage or leafy vegetation in contact with the building
Structural Restoration: Steps to take after identifying signs of possible structural damage.
Achieving a complete solution to wood-destroying fungus infections, infestations, and compromised structure for your building(s) requires a comprehensive plan to be executed by a commercial construction expert. The first step in this process is full detection of the extent of the damage. This is achieved through the accurate identification of fungal infections and wood-destroying organisms. Proper analysis to determine the root cause of the adverse conditions that allowed the damage to occur is essential. Repairing the compromised structure will protect property owners from building failure, but eradicating the infection permanently requires curing the moisture intrusion that originally fostered the growth cycle. This will end the possibility of a reoccurring threat to the building.How we can help execute a structural restoration project to your property.
WRB Construction is a licensed, bonded, and insured commercial general contractor that specializes in dry rot and specialty structure repair. Our primary objective is to provide our clients with industry-leading exterior rehabilitation, structural repair, waterproofing, siding installation, and building repair services. Our structural framing expertise, in conjunction with our knowledge of envelope assembly and building science, makes WRB Construction ideally suited to obtain final solutions to fungus infection wood decay, wood destroying insect damage, and dry rot. We offer complete inspections of your entire building/property or limited inspections of a specific area of concern. Upon completion of the inspection, we provide a written report that identifies surface dry rot and potential underlying structural issues. The report will address areas of damage and the suspected conditions that have caused or could lead to damage. The report also outlines preventative maintenance recommendations. When property owners are ready to mitigate their dry rot and structural issues our qualified team of master carpenters, experienced journeymen and construction managers possess the knowledge and skill sets to produce finished project results expected of a structural repair expert. Contact us today to learn more about our structural and dry rot repair services.We select only the best products for all of our structural restoration projects.
Using high-quality building exterior products is important for several reasons. First, these products tend to be more durable and long-lasting, which means you won’t have to replace them as frequently. This can save you money in the long run.
Second, high-quality products are often better at preventing common issues like dry rot, window leaks, and roofing issues. For example, using DuPont Tyvek and James Hardie Siding can help prevent moisture from getting into your walls, which can lead to dry rot and other problems.
Finally, using the best construction materials can improve the overall appearance and value of your investment. High-quality siding, roofing, and other exterior products can give your property a fresh, updated look and make it more attractive to potential tenants, and investors if you ever decide to sell.
So, whether you’re residing in your building or repairing dry rot and other issues, using the best exterior building products can help ensure that the job is done right and that your property is protected and looks its best.
