Replies

1. 
   Schelling | May 01, 2002 12:54pm | #1

   Dry rot is a result of the wood becoming wet for some prolonged period in the past, the rot (micro-organisms, fungus, etc.) deteriorating the wood, and then the mess drying out. What you see is the result. It will not continue unless there is more moisture added. You can get a more technical explanation but this is the practical result.

1. 
   toast953 | May 02, 2002 06:59am | #2

   Schellingm, thanks. J. J.

2. 
   Piffin | May 02, 2002 07:12am | #3

   No such thing as dry rot - it is wet rot that has dryed out and quit growing.

   Excellence is its own reward!
1. 
   toast953 | May 04, 2002 07:43am | #4

   piffin, thank you, J.J.

1. 
   geoffmurray | May 04, 2002 08:43am | #5

   If you've ever taken out old fence posts you'll see a great example of the difference that moisture makes to wood. The wood deep in the ground, wet and away from air all the time, is in perfect condition. The wood above ground, which gets wet on the surface but is basically dry, is in weathered, but good condition. The wood at ground level to 6 - 8 inches below is rotten. It goes through some sort of wet-dry cycle and is exposed to air. The combination of all three are what the micro organisms Schellingm mentioned need to live and eat the wood.

   Your old deck was probably rotten where wood met wood, where the deck boards sat on the joists, joists sat on beams etc. These joints trapped moisture and couldn't dry out.

   Which brings me to a concern about the use of caulking. I think in some cases it traps moisture, rather than prevents moisture from entering. Things may look good when the job is fresh and new, but in no time the rot begins. I try to leave places where the moisture can escape, like the bottom of window trim etc.

1. 
   toast953 | May 05, 2002 07:37am | #6

   Geoff Murray, I thank you also, Jim Jensen