THE TRUTH ABOUT WOOD ROT (You need to watch this!!)

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Don't get fooled by contractors! Wood rot is the most misunderstood concept in home improvement. Many homeowners fall victim to wood rot scams and bad building science. This video from The Honest Carpenter will explain the TRUTH ABOUT WOOD ROT!

If you have questions about your home, book a consultation with us at The Honest Carpenter Website. Our trade experts can answer your most important home-related questions:

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Be sure to check out our the other Wood Rot Repair videos:
Repair Trim Rot (Skirt Board):
How To Repair Rotted Door Jambs:
Fix Rotted Door Frame (Brick Mold):
How To Replace Deck Handrails:

Most homeowners can't identify wood rot. This is a serious issue, because it means that they are reliant on contractors to identify wood rot for them! While many contractors are honest and hardworking, BAD CONTRACTORS can use this lack of information to their advantage, selling unnecessary wood rot repairs and pumping up bids.

Homeowners need to understand 3 things:
1) Where wood rot comes from.
2) How it spreads.
3) What it looks like.

Here's a guid to doing just that!

THE TRUTH ABOUT WOOD ROT (HOW-TO):

Wood rot is caused by fungal infestation.

The fungi that cause rot need certain levels of temperature and moisture to exist (50-90 degrees farenheit; 25-30% moisture content in wood).

WITHOUT WATER, FUNGUS CAN'T GROW!

The fungi that infest our homes must have water in order to cause wood rot. Therefore, cutting off the water source that has initiated rot, and letting the area dry out, will prevent the spread of rot.

DRY ROT is an erroneous term. Most experts now call dry rot "BROWN ROT."

BROWN ROT is caused by the fungus Serpula lacrymans. This fungus breaks down wood fiber, leaving it weak and brittle. When a rotted area dries out, it has a desiccated appearance, which probably led to widespread usage of the term "dry rot."

BROWN ROT CANNOT SPREAD WITHOUT A WATER SOURCE!

Bad contractors will tell clients that "dry rot" will continue spreading throughout the house no matter what. BUT THIS IS WRONG!

The priority in every wood rot repair should be determining how water or moisture entered the area. This water source should be eliminated, then wood rot repairs can proceed.

HOW TO IDENTIFY WOOD ROT:

Wood rot is often visible. Search for very dark areas, or dark staining in wood. Also look for areas that seem collapsed, or possibly even bloated.

If you can't tell if an area is rotted visually, try these two tests:

1) THE POKE TEST: Just poke the area with your finger, or possibly a small screwdriver or knife. If it is soft to the touch, rot may be forming. If a tool sinks in more than 1/8", wood rot may be forming.

2) THE PICK TEST: Dig an awl or knife into the wood grain, and break out a piece. Healthy wood will produce a long, linear splinter, accompanied by a snapping, cracking sound. Rotted wood will come out in little crumbles or clumps, and make a rustling sound.

Some areas SEEM rotted, but actually aren't. In the video I call this FAKE ROT.

The most common source of "fake rot" is peeling paint. UV sun rays and heat can often bake paint and caulk off of a house, causing the surface to look decayed. But testing the wood will reveal that it is healthy. These areas may not need any repair--just re-caulking and painting!

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Be sure to visit us at The Honest Carpenter website:

(Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Cary, Wake Forest--North Carolina)

Thanks for watching!!

[keenanxipher]

I run a termite and moisture repair company, and must say this dude actual knows what he's talking about. I will show his videos to my new inspectors. Nice work

[blondeexplorer]

As a single woman and home owner every man has tried to rip me off from repairs. Thank you for this video. I have since been doing DIY. The projects I can not do I arm myself with as much knowledge as possible to prevent these creatures from stealing my money. Be well.

[stevehodge]

First, I am a professional engineer who is considered an expert on building defects. Second, this video is spot on and well done. The only suggestion I would make is for the HC to address the difference between brown rot and white rot and also how to determine the difference between brown rot and termite damage.
Keep up the good work!

[toothpastehombre]

Carpenter here who started my construction journey running a small painting company. A painter is often the first person to catch or be called to rotting areas of a home. Everything in this vid is spot on. Incredibly informative and shall we saw, honest. Damn honest. Well done

[ericrotsinger]

I've been doing home repair for only 40 years, so what do I know. This guy is spot on.

[randomcraftinggamer]

THANK GOD there are people like you on here... Not everyone can afford to deal with home repair or are educated enough to make sure they aren't ripped off!!! THANK YOU

[mickeythemaltipoo]

We need more on honest people like yourself sir, thank you.

[NerrdHerrd]

I gotta say, it’s refreshing as a home inspector to see such straight forward information out there. I have been struggling to help my clients understand why they shouldn’t cancel a transaction over some wood rot in places like the exterior trim. I just found your channel and I’ll have this video URL in my inspection reports when rot is mentioned. So much good information.
Not only that but I’ll now have to pull myself out of the bad habit of using the term “dry rot.” Thanks for the correction!

[seanmcaleavy]

This is a good informative video. For anybody who might be interested in such things, the reason paint cracks and chips off of a house is because of uneven drying. Think of a coat of paint as having two sides, the side you don't see is touching the house and the second side is what you see. That side that you see is exposed to direct sunlight and the oils in the paint are drying out more rapidly on that side while the oils on the other side are drying slower. This causes the paint to shrink on that exposed side which causes cracks and eventual cupping of the paint which in turn pulls the paint up off of the house anywhere there is a crack. Latex paints, commonly called water-based paints, are more flexible and they are able to stretch to accommodate for this shrinking of one side of the paint so they are way less prone to crack and peel. So now you know.

[jennifernewell]

Thank i just had an HOA handyman rip out all the drywall (walls, ceilings, everything) claiming that I had mold on the wood in my condominium from a flood. Then, I put 2 and 2 together. the studs had a little green on them from the original build (where lumber was stacked a little wet 30 years ago) . Although, the HOA took a huge hit monetarly on this one, at least it opened my eyes, and now, thank you, that guy would have ripped my whole place down, using scare tactics, that...woow!! I wouldn't have known. Thank

[bobbarron]

Educated homeowners rarely get burned, so providing this information may save some homeowners from being cheated. And even after 40+ years of doing remodeling work and still loving it, I learned a thing or two from the vid. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[victorquesada]

Thanks for that precision on the definition of dry rot. Fungi are crazy cool when they aren't trying to eat your house. Don't forget the damage that carptenter bees and ants can do, along with termites. Again, water/moisture is a big draw for these organisms, and needs to be dealt with if you are planning on keeping your wood sound for years to come.

[Ratlins]

Thanks for making this video, I appreciate tradesmen like you who educate homeowners.

[ironwood]

You definitely live up to your name: The Honest Carpenter.

[MsBianca]

I'm so happy YouTube suggested your page. I was single and every time I would call for a quote(for EVERYTHING), the guys would either try to talk to me or over charge me while being dishonest. Thank you so much for your help. You're truly a gem. ❤️

[pointedspider]

Im an HVAC tech and electrician. In opened a business doing home repair. I'm more busy than ever!!! I love it!!

[johns]

I appreciate the informative content here. My father basically said the same thing about 'dry rot'... "it is wet rot, that has dried." He's still kicking but not in the business anymore.

[atteroljones]

You get an A+ for this video. I have been a homeowner since 1994 and each of my five houses have been fixers, so I have learned a thing or two. I am in the process of repairing exterior window framing and sills on my current (74 yo_ house. I might have gone for a contractor and the inevitable tear out and wood replacement, but in this crazed housing market (July 2021) no handyman or contractor is available. So its me and my tools and wood preservative and scrap wood (to reconstruct trim) and Bondo and primer and paint.

[bryanrocker]

Very well done video, this should be a recommended watch for every first time home buyer. Enjoy this very nice Saturday!

[miketony]

Listening to good advice from a good guy reaffirms my faith in humanity.