Wood rot is very common in homes that have problems with dampness and humidity. This is not surprising because wood rot spores behave in much the same way that mold spores do, to an extent. They form in the same way that mold spores do, though there are some key differences.
The Three Kinds of Wood Rot
Wood rot comes in three main kinds that are fairly distinct from one another, though they all perform the same basic function (which is to help wood decay). Brown rot, white rot, and soft rot all look slightly different and attack different parts of the structure of wood. White rot and soft rot are two variations of what is commonly called wet rot. These forms of rot cause the wood to become soft and spongy in texture and will create either a white coating (white rot) or a honeycomb appearance (soft rot).
Brown rot, however, is also known as dry rot. Unlike wet rot, dry rot causes the wood to become hard and brittle, and it will make it look slightly cracked or burned in nature. While all forms of rot are damaging in nature, brown rot is the most worrisome because of the incredible speed at which it spreads around a home. Soft rot and white rot tend to be far slower in their spread and less dramatic in their results.
The Dangers of Wood Rot
Wood rot has many different risks to consider (though it is not directly dangerous to humans unless ingested), but there are some that bear more consideration than others. First, wood rot that gets into the joists and supports of your flooring could well cause floor and wall gaps, but this issue pales in comparison to the fact that it will lead to collapse if left unattended. A flooring collapse not only is bad for your home, but also it poses a very real risk of injury to you and anyone else in your property.
Worse still, wood rot spreads like wildfire when the conditions are right. Dampness, humidity, and an abundance of wooden surfaces and structures in your home will allow it to impact your walls, flooring, supports, joists, and even your roof or furnishings, over time. The more widespread wood rot becomes, the harder it will be to root out and the more expensive the cost of repairs will be.