The Fruiting body of the dry rot fungus. The floorboards have been destroyed by the rot attack

Even masonry built houses contain substantial amounts of timber—in the roof, floors and so on. So it is vital to identify signs of decay and deal with them as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Early detection and cure becomes even more important with timber framed houses.

Wet rot, which often attacks window and door frames, as condensation drips down the glass, is relatively easy to spot and treat. But dry rot is more insidious: it may start undetected in the roof or beneath the floor, then spread through the entire house.

By far the best way to deal with these attacks is to get some idea of the nature of the various types of rot. As with most things, once you know how they work, they become much easier to stop.

Detecting rot especially dry rot, is often a job best left to specialist firms, many of whom offer a free surveying service. If specialists carry out the work, they will give you a guarantee. In Australia, DIY treatment is not possible as fungicides are not available over the counter.

If you are buying a property which your surveyor reports is suffering from dry rot and you are seeking a mortgage on it, the lender will almost certainly insist that treatment is carried out by experts as a condition of granting the mortgage.