REFRESHIFY

If you’ve ever discovered soft, crumbling wood around your windows, deck, or crawl space, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered dry rot — one of the most destructive and underestimated issues homeowners face in the Pacific Northwest. Left untreated, dry rot can quietly compromise your home’s structure, spread through hidden framing, and cost thousands in repairs.

As a home improvement contractor with years of experience repairing homes across the Seattle area, I can tell you this: the sooner you spot and treat dry rot, the easier it is to fix.

Dry rot isn’t “dry” at all. It’s a type of fungal decay caused by moisture and poor ventilation. When wood stays damp for too long — from roof leaks, plumbing drips, or poor drainage — fungi begin feeding on the cellulose inside the wood, weakening it from the inside out.

It often starts in places you can’t easily see:

• Behind siding or trim
• Under leaking roofs
• Around improperly sealed windows
• Beneath decks or crawl spaces

Once it starts, it spreads fast — even into wood that appears dry on the surface.

Our region’s rainy winters make local homes especially vulnerable. Common culprits include:

• Poor ventilation: Moisture trapped in attics or crawl spaces creates the perfect breeding ground for fungi.
• Leaky roofs or gutters: Even minor leaks can saturate wood framing.
• Improper flashing or sealing: Gaps around chimneys, skylights, or windows let in water over time.
• Soil contact: Wood decks or siding that touch damp soil stay constantly wet.

In short, dry rot thrives wherever moisture lingers.

The best way to deal with dry rot is to stop it before it starts. Prevention begins with good home maintenance habits:

1. Inspect your roof, gutters, and downspouts yearly. Repair leaks immediately.
2. Ensure proper ventilation in attics and crawl spaces to let moisture escape.
3. Seal and paint exposed wood surfaces regularly.
4. Keep soil and mulch away from siding and decks to reduce moisture contact.

These simple steps go a long way toward protecting your home from costly structural decay.

If you already have dry rot, don’t panic, but don’t delay. The key is to remove all affected wood and eliminate the moisture source. Here’s how professionals like us handle it:

1. Identify the full extent of damage using moisture meters and visual inspection.
2. Cut out the infected wood — not just what looks damaged, but all surrounding compromised areas.
3. Treat adjacent wood with a high-quality fungicide to kill remaining spores.
4. Repair and replace with pressure-treated or moisture-resistant lumber.
5. Seal, paint, and ventilate to prevent recurrence.

DIY fixes like filling rotten areas with epoxy can work for very small patches, but they’re not long-term solutions. Structural repairs, especially around framing or decks, are best handled by a qualified contractor, like us Refreshify.

Dry rot doesn’t stay contained. It can spread across framing, joists, and subfloors — even behind drywall. The earlier it’s caught, the less invasive (and expensive) the repair will be.

Most importantly, addressing dry rot improves your home’s safety, air quality, and resale value — making it one of the smartest repairs you can invest in.

Dry rot is one of those issues homeowners tend to ignore until it’s too late. But with regular inspections, proper ventilation, and timely repairs, it’s entirely preventable.

If you suspect dry rot in your home — or simply want an expert to assess potential problem areas — our team can help you repair, protect, and restore your home’s integrity.

And remember: with flexible financing options through Hearth or pay later option like Refreshify, you can tackle dry rot repairs now and pay later — without putting off the protection your home needs.