Dry Rot Is Eating Your Home—Here’s How to Fight Back
Don’t Let Dry Rot Wreck Your Portland Home: Here’s What to Do About It
If you live in Portland, chances are you’ve heard of dry rot—or worse, you’ve seen what it can do. With our constant rain and high humidity, it’s one of the most common issues homeowners around here deal with. And while it might sound like a minor problem, dry rot can quietly eat away at the structure of your home, leaving you with a much bigger—and more expensive—repair down the road.
At HD Contractor, we’ve seen it all. And we’ve helped plenty of Portland homeowners stop dry rot in its tracks. So let’s break it down—what it is, how to spot it, and what you need to do about it before it gets worse.
What Exactly Is Dry Rot?
Dry rot is a fungus that feeds on damp wood. It loves dark, moist places—crawlspaces, basements, behind old siding, or around leaky windows. Once it settles in, it spreads fast and starts breaking down the wood fibers that give your home strength and structure.
The problem? Most people don’t notice it until the damage is already serious.
5 Warning Signs to Watch For
Dry rot doesn’t always scream for attention, but if you know what to look for, you can catch it early. Here’s what we tell our clients to watch for:
- Wood looks off – darker than usual, brittle, cracking, or crumbly
- Musty smell – like old basement or wet soil
- Fungal fuzz – gray, white, or yellow patches on wood
- Soft spots – areas that feel squishy or give way when you press
- Peeling paint – especially if the wood underneath feels damp
If you spot any of these, it’s time to take action.
How We Fix Dry Rot (and Keep It From Coming Back)
Fixing dry rot isn’t just about replacing wood—it’s about finding the source of the moisture and stopping it for good. Here’s how we handle it:
1. Thorough Inspection
We check everything—from visible rot to hidden problem areas using moisture meters and other tools. We also track down where the moisture is coming from.
2. Remove All Damaged Wood
No shortcuts here. We cut out all the rotted wood to make sure the fungus is gone and doesn’t have a way to come back.
3. Treat the Area
Once the bad wood is out, we treat the surrounding area with fungicide to make sure no spores are left behind.
4. Rebuild with Better Materials
We replace the damaged sections with rot-resistant lumber and make sure everything is reinforced and blended in properly—like it was never touched.
5. Fix the Root of the Problem
Whether it’s poor drainage, leaky roofing, bad flashing, or poor airflow—we handle the cause so your home stays protected long after we leave.
Why Call HD Contractor?
Portland’s climate creates some unique building challenges. That’s why you want a contractor who gets it. At HD Contractor, we don’t just patch the problem—we fix it at the root. And because we specialize in structural and moisture-related repairs, you’re getting people who’ve solved this issue hundreds of times before.
Don’t Wait Until It Gets Worse
Dry rot won’t go away on its own—and it won’t wait for a better time to strike. If you even suspect an issue, give us a call. We’ll give you a straight answer, a clear plan, and a fix that actually lasts.
📞 360-980-0418
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