Dry Rot Repair in San Bruno

Dry rot repair means cutting out wood that a fungus has broken down and putting strong new wood in its place. Dry rot is not really dry. It is a fungus that feeds on wood that stays damp. So a real repair has two parts. First you stop the water that fed the rot. Then you replace every piece of soft wood. Angel Suarez Construction, a licensed California general contractor, does both parts.

Is dry rot the same as mold?

No. Both are fungi, but they do different harm. Mold mostly grows on the surface and leaves a stain. Rot fungi eat the wood itself. The wood turns brown, cracks into small squares, and crumbles when you press it. It also loses its strength. That is why rot in a floor joist or a wall stud is a building problem, not just a cleaning job.

Where does dry rot show up in a house?

Rot starts wherever wood stays wet. Common spots are window sills, door frames, siding, deck posts, and fascia boards (the trim along the roof edge). Inside, check the subfloor under a toilet, tub, or sink. Under the house, look at the sill plate, the board that sits on top of the foundation. If rot is around a window, our door and window replacement team can fix the frame and set a new unit.

Signs your wood has dry rot

Poke the wood with a screwdriver. Healthy wood pushes back. Rotted wood feels soft or spongy, and the tip sinks in. Other signs are paint that bubbles or peels in one spot, wood that cracks into little cubes, and a damp, musty smell. Inside, a floor that feels soft or bouncy near a tub or toilet is a strong warning sign. Catching it early keeps a small repair from becoming a big one.

Does dry rot spread to other wood?

Yes, as long as the wood stays damp. The fungus keeps growing into nearby boards that are wet. Once the wood dries out and stays dry, the rot stops. That is why we never just cover rot with paint or filler. If the leak is still there, the rot keeps working behind the new surface. Fixing the water source is the first step of every repair we do.

How we repair dry rot, step by step

First we find where the water gets in, like a failed seal or a slow leak. Next we open the area and probe the wood to find where the rot ends. We cut out all the soft wood and a little past it into sound wood. Then we put in new lumber, using treated wood where the building code calls for it. Last, we seal it, add metal flashing that sends water away, and paint.

Can you fix dry rot with filler, or does the wood need replacing?

It depends on what the wood does. A small soft spot on a piece of trim can sometimes be filled with an epoxy wood filler and painted. Wood that holds up weight is different. A rotted joist, stud, sill plate, or beam must be replaced or backed up with new framing. Filler cannot give back strength the fungus took away. We tell you which kind of fix your wood needs before any work starts.

Is it dry rot or termite damage?

The two can look alike, and many older homes have both. Rot leaves wood brown, cracked into squares, and soft. Termites leave tunnels inside the wood, mud tubes on the foundation, or small pellets. On a California termite report, both kinds of damage can be listed. If a report found termites, see our termite damage repair page for how that job works with your pest control company.

When does a dry rot repair need a permit?

Replacing trim, a sill, or a small piece of siding is often simple. Replacing structural wood is different. When the rot reaches floor joists, wall studs, or the sill plate on the foundation, the work is a structural repair. That kind of job usually needs a city building permit and an inspection. As a licensed general contractor, we pull the permit when one is needed, so the repair is checked and on record.

Dry rot repair in San Bruno and across San Mateo County

Many homes near San Bruno are older, so their wood has seen decades of rain and small leaks. In nearby Millbrae, about 85% of homes were built before 1980. In Burlingame, the typical home dates to 1957 (U.S. Census). Older wood near the ground, around windows, and under bathrooms is where we look first. See our pages for Millbrae and Burlingame for more on local homes.

Rot under the house can also reach the foundation. If the sill plate or the concrete under it needs work, our concrete and foundation crew can fix both in one job. Finding rot in an old crawl space makes it a good time to think about a seismic retrofit. New bolts and bracing need sound wood to hold. See our full list of building services, or ask for a free written estimate.

Why choose Angel Suarez Construction?

• Serving San Bruno Since 2021.
• Licensed and insured, license 1085926.
• Rated 5★, based on local customer feedback.

Where we offer dry rot repair

Angel Suarez Construction handles dry rot repair from San Bruno across the towns below. Each town page covers what is different about the work there.

• help near South San Francisco
• our San Mateo service area
• our work in Burlingame
• dry rot repair for Millbrae
• serving San Francisco

We also travel to Pacifica, Foster City, Belmont and San Carlos.

See what neighbors say, Dry Rot Repair reviews on Google.

Related services

• Termite Damage Repair: Have a termite report? We give you a free written estimate for each repair item. Then we rebuild the joists, sill plates, studs, and trim once your pest company has treated.
• Water Damage Repair: We rebuild what a leak or flood ruined, from soaked drywall and swollen subfloor to rotted framing, cabinets, and floors. Call us as soon as the water is stopped.
• Kitchen Remodeling: Full kitchen remodels for Peninsula homes. One licensed general contractor handles cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, and tile.

See all of our remodeling & construction services, or head back to the Angel Suarez Construction home page.