The Best-Quality Dry Rot Repair in Louisville, KY
Dry rot is a condition that can occur in natural-fiber rugs, such as wool rugs, silk rugs, and jute rugs if exposed to water for a long time.
This long, slow but continuous degradation and weakening of the rug’s fibers eventually leads to damage that can be seen as rips, tears, and holes all over the rug. It may take a few years to show itself, or it may take decades, but the consequences of ignoring it are quite severe.
‘Dry rot’ is actually a misnomer because it means rot or damage caused by lack of moisture. Indeed, the damage was previously done during certain conditions of moisture and mildew.
It’s worth mentioning that although the rot is currently ‘dry’, it’s created by fungi mainly caused by excess moisture. Once dry, weak fibers can be easily broken and have a dry look and crunchy fee. But that doesn’t mean the rug is over! In such scenarios, please get in touch with us and order the most effective Dry Rot Repair in Louisville, KY, from Sophia’s Rugs.
Some common causes of dry rot
plant watering overflow
One condition contributing to dry rot in the rug is prolonged uncontrolled wetting. Its distinctive feature is the section of rugs under plant pots, especially planters made of clay, that can transfer moisture to the rug.
Pet Stains and Other Residues
Another contributing factor may be residue on the rug, such as pet stains. The buildup of salts from pet stains tends to be hygroscopic or ‘moisture-attracting,’ keeping the area slightly moist for long periods.
This crystalized pet urine continuously absorbs moisture from the air and causes moisture to accumulate in the rug’s foundation. The result is a slow but continuous process of fungal growth and deterioration of the affected rug’s fibers. You’d better know that rugs suffering from dry rot can often smell in hot, humid weather.
The natural fiber in the foundation of rugs
The most common type of dry rot occurs in the natural-fibers rugs that often form the foundation. Usually, the rug’s foundation gets more damaged because it’s darker down there, thus a better environment for fungi to grow.
This constant growth of dry rot shows no outward or obvious signs while the damage is slowly spreading. That is until the actual damage is done and the obvious change in the rug’s look and odor are easily noticeable.
Eventually, the affected areas of the rug become harder, less flexible, and crunchy. There is usually a subtle but distinctive ‘cracking’ or ‘snapping’ sound in this late condition when an old rug is folded or rolled between the hands.
Outstanding quality and very dense oriental rugs are particularly prone to dry rots. For such damaged rugs, simply lifting or moving the rug for cleaning or restoration can cause cracks or tears in the rug’s foundation. That’s not caused by everyday handling but by progressive ‘silent’ damage occurring years ago.
What can be done to remove dry rot?
Sophia’s Rugs can undo it perfectly, no matter how bad the damage looks now. We remove the utterly affected areas of your rug, clean it with a customized solution that kills the fungi but doesn’t damage the rug itself at all. Then we start the rug repair process by reweaving the missing areas with matching fabrics and dyes. Your formerly damaged area rug will look totally untouched and brand new after our Dry Rot Repair is done as if nothing had ever happened to it!
Please feel free to get in touch with us as soon as you notice dry rots in your precious rugs. You’re more than welcome to ask your question about our Dry Rot Repair in Louisville, KY, anytime you’d like by phone calls, emails and text messages.