The Progression of Dry Rot in a Sacramento Stairway
An apartment community in Sacramento called me to help with their exterior dry rot problems that they were having in the stairways leading to the upstairs units. This community had nearly 200 stairways, and most of them had dry rot related problems. Some of the steps were just loose; others could be a potentially serious problem.
The management of the community called for my opinion of the stairs, a priority of repairs that needed to be done, and a reason for the dry rot problems. While walking the property’s stairs, I got to see various degrees of damage; damage due to dry rot. Since all the stairs were build the same and attached in the same fashion, I could see that all of the problems were following the same pattern.
I looked at nearly 2,500 steps, and photographed many of them. I can now show the progression of the problem from the photos taken in one day. Here is how dry rot progressed in the stairways of this Sacramento apartment community.
Dirt and Debris Accumulation – Dirt, leaves, pollen and other moisture holding debris fills the gap between the concrete step and the building mounted stair stringer. This small crevice can fill quickly and become denser over time. The rain and moisture will add to the solidifying of the debris in the void. At this point, any moisture that is introduced to the area will remain moist much longer than it cleared of the debris.
Organic Growth – After the accumulation of dirt and a collection of moisture, this small area can begin to have organic growth. We can sometimes see a mossy growth that starts as a green sheen and progresses to a green growth that can easily be seen. This area is now capable of growing fungus in the wood that is in contact. At this early stage, the dry rot may not be visible because it is covered in dirt and debris.
Early Signs of Wood Decay – After the fungus growth has begun inside the wood, it will continue to grow in size. Eventually, we will be able to see the fungus as a soft depressed area in the wood. The wood has begun to lose its structural strength, it is soft to the touch, and the surface of the wood is changing.
Compounding Rot – In a stairway, this rotting wood can be happening at each step. The dirt, moisture, and organic growth is happening every 6-7” along the stringer. The damage to one side of the steps in the stairway has begun to make the entire stringer compromised. The steps may be getting loose, the steps may begin the sink a bit on one side, and the stringer can even start to split.
Dangerous Dry Rot – So the dry rot has continued for many years and the situation dangerous. We can see that the years of dry rot have changed the structural integrity of the lumber. The bolts holding the steps are loose, and the nails fastened to the building are no longer holding. Since the concrete steps are hanging from this stringer, the steps are no longer safe to be walked on. The stairway needs to be replaced with new lumber.
By looking at the stairway of this apartment community in Sacramento, we can see how dry rot progresses and what the ultimate result will be if not corrected. I get called for my experience in dry rot and water damage repairs on a regular basis. All dry rot can be repaired and brought back to a safe condition. In many cases, a qualified general contractor can help in the prevention of dry rot.
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For Dry Rot Repairs in Sacramento
Tromler Construction
General Contractor – Dry Rot and Water Damage Repair
916.765.5366
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