How Much Does It Cost To Repair Dry Rot?
Last Updated: January 20, 2022
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Summary: Wood Dry Rot Repair Prices #
A small, easy to access area of wood dry rot will cost $100 to $300 to repair. Repairing siding dry rot typically costs around $1,000, but can run up to $2,500. The price increases for structurally significant areas, such as floor joists, which could cost $4,000 to $12,000 to replace.
Dry rot is a wood fungus that causes structural damage to timber. The name can be misleading, as dry rot occurs in moist conditions. This is explained by the tendency of affected wood to become dry, brittle, and sometimes blocky-looking. Keep reading to learn more about dry rot, including how much it costs to repair dry rot.
Basic Information About Dry Rot #
While it's caused by tiny organisms, dry rot can cause large amounts of damage if not promptly repaired or replaced. The following information is a brief overview of dry rot and how it can affect you.
- Although dry rot can occur in many places, the most common include bathrooms, decks, siding, crawlspaces, poorly designed and/or installed roofs, and around windows, sliding glass doors, and areas that contact soil.
- If you live in an area with extreme climactic variations, this can damage wood and create an ideal breeding ground for dry rot fungi.
- Failing to remove the dry rot-infested wood will result in the fungus spreading and causing additional damage. It could even provide an ideal habitat for pests that will compound the damage.
- Dry rot damage can be confused with that caused by carpenter ants or termites. You can spot the former by the presence of clean cavities where the pests have removed wood and/or by spotting the insects themselves.
- The best way to prevent dry rot is to eliminate excess moisture, whether it occurs from poor construction (such as exposed wood in a failed foundation) or natural wear (leaky pipes, for example).
Dry Rot Repair Costs #
The cost to repair dry depends on the extent of the infestation, the affected location, and the professional hired to do the job (whether it is a handyman or pest professional). Though the price can vary significantly from job to job, the following figures should give you a better idea of how much it costs to repair dry rot.
- Professional repair of a single, easy to access area such as the base of a porch support might cost you approximately $100 to $300. Another commonly affected area, siding, might cost you around $100 to $2,500 or more to repair, although more typically the cost is less than $1,000.
- Dry rot repair costs rise when the damage is extensive and wood needs to be removed and replaced. The total price is, again, variable, and dependant on the size of the affected area. For instance, consider the cost of replacing a single porch section ($250 to $750) versus replacing the entire porch ($7,500 to $50,000). In addition, if the affected area is structurally significant, such as floor joists, the dry rot repair cost could be $4,000 to $12,000.
- If you want to fix dry rot as a do-it-yourself project, it's possible to use a bondo-like epoxy to fill in damaged areas and then treat the area with a fungicide. A small DIY project of this nature might cost you around $50 to $150, but bear in mind that this approach might just buy you a few years.
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