Timber decay and woodworm
If only the skirtings are soft, is the whole floor suffering from wet rot?
Not necessarily. Wet rot stays where the timber is damp. A soft skirting against a wet wall can be local, while the boards a metre away are firm. The Property Care Association describes wet rot as decay that needs persistent moisture. The surveyor who did not lift the floor should not sentence the joists they could not see, and should not clear them either.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
Skirtings rot beside leaking radiators, bridging paths and condensation on a cold wall. The repair is to stop the water and replace the decayed wood, which may be only the skirting. If the boards are bouncy or the surveyor could not get near them, say that limit. Guessing “new floors throughout” from one skirting is how quotes get inflated.
Dry rot is the one that travels. If the surveyor has not mentioned strands or a fruiting body, do not upgrade wet rot into dry rot in your letter. Ask them which they mean. Then ask a contractor to confirm once the source of water is known. There is no standard price. A skirting and a floor are different quantities.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which lengths of skirting are soft, and were the boards firm?
- Did you see a source of water at that point?
- Are you distinguishing wet rot from dry rot, or leaving that open?
What are the typical next steps?
- Do not rip out every skirting before the leak is found.
- Probe only if you own the house or have agreed access. Do not punch holes on a viewing.
- Get a quote that lists the timbers to be replaced, not “rot treatment” as a single line.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Will a dehumidifier cure wet rot?
It may dry a room. It does not replace decayed wood or stop a leak. PCA’s point is the moisture source.
Is a hollow skirting always rot?
Old skirtings sound hollow anyway. Softness and a probe that goes in are the signs. A surveyor should say what they did.