Dry Rot Treatment in Brighton & Sussex
Dry rot is the most destructive fungus a building can get — it spreads through brickwork, behind plaster and across dry timber. If you suspect it, act now: early eradication is dramatically cheaper than structural repair.
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- Local Sussex surveyors
- 30-year guarantee
- Works can start in days
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Tell us about the problem — we’ll come back within 24 hours with a quote & survey time.
How serious is dry rot? Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is the most serious form of timber decay: unlike wet rot, it transports its own moisture and spreads through masonry, behind plaster and across timber far from the original damp source. It can cause major structural damage if untreated. Professional eradication — removing affected timber, treating masonry and fixing the moisture source — is strongly recommended.
Signs of dry rot in your home
Caught early, dry rot is far cheaper to fix. If you recognise any of these, it’s worth getting a local expert to take a look — our advice is free.
- Cuboidal cracking — timber shrinking and breaking into cube-shaped pieces
- Cotton-wool growth — white, fluffy mycelium spreading across wood and walls
- Rusty red spore dust — fine brick-red dust settling near affected areas
- Mushroom-like fruiting bodies — pancake-shaped growths with red centres
- Grey-white strands — root-like hyphae crossing masonry and plaster
- Damp, fungal smell — a distinctive mushroomy odour in affected rooms
What causes dry rot?
Dry rot starts the same way as wet rot — timber soaked by a leak, rising damp or condensation — but Serpula lacrymans doesn't stay put. Once established, it produces moisture-carrying strands that cross brickwork, travel behind plaster, and infect dry timber metres from the source.
That spreading ability is why dry rot demands professional eradication. Treating only the visible growth leaves hidden strands alive in the masonry, and the outbreak returns. Our specialists map the full extent before any treatment begins.
Not sure this matches what you’re seeing? Book a local damp survey and we’ll diagnose it properly — survey fees are discounted from any work you go ahead with.
How we treat dry rot
Urgent specialist survey
We confirm dry rot, trace the moisture source and map the true extent of the outbreak — including hidden spread.
Remove & contain
Affected timber is cut out beyond the visible decay; surrounding masonry and timber are treated with targeted fungicides.
Kill the conditions
The moisture source is eliminated and ventilation improved, removing the environment dry rot needs to survive.
Rebuild with protection
New pre-treated timber is installed and works carry our 30-year guarantee.
Every job protected for 30 years.
All dry rot works are completed by checked & vetted local specialists and come with a 30-year guarantee — so you can fix it once and forget about it.
“Brett from The Damp Specialists gave us a great price and offered a 30-year guarantee on his work. The wall is bone dry a year on.”
“Survey was booked within a day of my call. Honest advice — they even told us one wall just needed ventilation, not treatment. Rare to find.”
“Rising damp in our Victorian terrace sorted in under a week. Tidy, polite and the price matched the quote exactly.”
Dry Rot FAQs
How quickly does dry rot spread?
Can I treat dry rot myself?
Does dry rot mean my house is structurally unsafe?
Why is it called dry rot if it needs moisture?
Is dry rot treatment guaranteed?
Stop damp before it spreads — and costs you more.
Quotes are free, surveys are local, and every job is protected by a 30-year guarantee. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll take it from there.
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