When Should I Call an Expert to Fix Wood Rot?

If you’re aware that the moisture levels in your crawl space are too high, you might have a lot of questions. How soon will the wood begin to rot? How long can I wait until it becomes a big problem? As mentioned previously, wood rot is extremely difficult to take care of yourself. Not only is fungal growth hard to get rid of, but the products needed to do the job properly also aren’t always available. You will definitely need to call an expert eventually. 

But just because there’s moisture in your crawl space doesn’t mean that the wood will begin rotting immediately. So how will you know when it’s time to deal with the problem? 

• If You’re Able to Access the Crawl Space  

The moment you notice spores or fungal growth anywhere in the crawl space (whether it’s on the wood or not), it’s time to deal with the problem. The fungus and mold can and will eventually transfer over the wood, so action must be taken before it happens. 

Some fungi can be very sneaky when it comes to rotting wood. The wood doesn’t always show discoloration, so what you can do is test your wood’s strength by using a screwdriver. Any kind of softness is indicative of fungal growth. Even if the wood looks fine otherwise, something needs to be done before the fungus spreads. 

• If You’re Unable to Access the Crawl Space 

If you’re unable to check on the wood in your crawl space, look for problem signs elsewhere in your home. Mold on carpets, in the kitchen, and in bathrooms are usually a good indicator that the humidity levels are extremely high. Crawl spaces are usually a lot more humid than the rest of the house, so if things are moldy upstairs, the crawl space is probably in worse condition. 

The smell is another good indicator. Because of the stack effect, most of the air you breathe comes from the crawl space. If the fungal growth has gotten so intense that you can smell it, it’s time to call someone in for crawl space repairs.