What is the
Dry Rot Sensor Stick?
* a simple to install treated
wooden dowel that changes colour, from blue to yellow, in the presence
of active Dry Rot
What does a
Dry Rot Sensor do for me?
* it allows you to tell if
Dry Rot is present at its earliest stages, in timber or masonry, giving
you an early warning that treatment is required before your building
is damaged
How is a Dry
Rot Sensor installed?
* by drilling an 8mm diameter
hole to a depth of 110mm in the 'at risk' timber or masonry
How does a Dry
Rot Sensor work?
* the blue detector dye,
that is vacuum impregnated into the wooden stick, reacts to the chemical
that Dry Rot produces - oxalic acid - at very low levels, turning the
dye to yellow
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here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop
Dry Rot and other
Wood Rotting Fungi
There are two main types
of wood rotting fungi that attack damp timber in buildings, Wet rots
and Dry rot. To buy rot treatment you need to know the difference between
a variety of Wet rots and the unique Dry rot fungus, (Dry rot Latin
name - Serpula lacrymans). This is because Dry rot can travel across
dry areas made of any material to reach untreated wood to eat. Wet rots
are confined to the wet areas only. However, areas of Wet rot that dry
out can easily turn into Dry rot, as the dampness level falls into the
range that Dry rot prefers. We provide Free Advice and Details of
your Local Specialist to make sure that the diagnosis of Rot is
correct and that we offer the correct chemical treatment for wood preservation
and masonry (e.g. brick, stone, mortar) sterilisation.
All wood rots indicate a
dampness problem. Damp in walls, floors and roofs must be tracked back
to source and the cause of the damp treated (see www.dampness-info.co.uk).
Rots are woodland fungi frequently
found in houses and commercial buildings where dampness has entered,
usually as the result of leaking gutters, downpipes, drains or roofing.
They requires an initial moisture content of about 18% in wood, but
Dry rot, unlike the family of Wet Rots, can spread across dry areas
and across surfaces treated with wood preservatives. This ability, unique
to Dry Rot, to travel outside of the damp area makes it dangerous to
wood in buildings. You can treat masonry and timbers with wood preservatives
to perfection, but a small pocket of Dry Rot can still be capable of
emerging across the treated area looking for new timber to attack.
Sometimes such an outbreak
can emerge long after initial treatment, as the result of a new leak
into the treated area. The treatment chemical is then over diluted by
the water added from the new leak. This dilution effect occurs because
Rot treatments have to be water soluble in order to penetrate damp masonry
and timber.
Dry Rot spreads in walls
and floors for many months or years before symptoms become visible.
The symptoms can include Strands (like a plant root), Mycellium (a skin-like
growth) or a Fruiting Body (the mushroom or Sporaphore). Go to www.dryrot.biz/dryrotpaint.htm
for pictures and a comparison of Dry rot and Wet rot symptoms.
Surveyors can only see the
surface symptoms and cannot predict the extent of a Dry Rot attack.
This leads to extensive ripping out of sound building materials in order
to be sure that the fungal attack has all been found.
The Dry Rot Stick or Sensor
allows accurate diagnosis of Dry Rot and prevents Wet Rots from being
misdiagnosed as Dry Rot - the stick simply changes colour from Blue
to a blotchy yellow where active Dry Rot is present.
Sticks that have not changed
colour can be left in place for long term monitoring, or moved to a
new position.
Click
here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop
The advantages
of Dry Rot Sensor Sticks:
* physical colour change
proof of Dry Rot eliminates 'cowboy' selling by unqualified Contractors
* D.I.Y. - easy to fit, easy
to check, be your own expert
* detects early signs, before
they are visible and have caused more damage
* tested by Universities
in Sweden and the UK
* moisture readings can be
taken off the stick with our Damp Meter
Click
here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop
Don't let Dry Rot spread
& destroy your building
Ring for Free Technical Support
Now -
Call our experts David, Angela
or Hayley on 01626 872886 for a 'Real Person' to chat about your needs,
and Order Direct by phone
OR
Click
here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop
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for Home Page
How
to treat and eradicate Dry Rot
1. Eliminate
the moisture source and establish the extent by drill testing
2. Remove
all decay back to sound timber.(Note - no need to cut back and scrap
good wood))
Fruiting
Body of Dry Rot - note the red spore dust
3. Inject
Boron B40 Gel, apply Boron B20 Brushing Gel and surface
spray/brush with Boracol 10..
Click
here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop
Example
of Dry Rot Treatment on Site
Manor
House, Warwick - extensive infestation had resulted in massive areas
of Dry Rot mycelium (skin) and sporophores (fruiting bodies - mushrooms)
on timber and masonry. Previous treatments with conventional chemicals
had failed to stop the spread of fungi. Boracol 10 was applied
by spray to timber, masonry and sub-sites, Boracol B20 Gel to
end grain and vulnerable surfaces, Boracol B40 Injection to 8-10mm
holes drilled to prescribed hole pattern, to surrounding areas at least
300mm in all directions from the limits of the attack and to all timbers
at or above 18% moisture content.
Skirting Board being eaten
by Dry Rot - could have been
detected early with a Dry
Rot Sensor installed.
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for Home Page
Speak to our Experts
- David, Angela or Hayley - on 01626 872886
Click
here to see Dry Rot Sensors, check prices or order in our Dry Rot Shop