Is this rot?

[triz]

I've just started taking down the plasterboard around the bath, to be replaced with cementboard, and have noticed some black marks on the wall studs. Does this look like rot? And if so, do I need to worry about it?

 

[pete50]

Possibly but it is hard to tell from the pictures. To me it looks like the "tradesmen" who built that wall used the cheapest nastiest bits of wood they could find. Pretty much par for the course these days.

 

[^woody^]

If it's soft it's rot if not it's not.

Once it's all resealed and dry, it will be OK.

 

[triz]

After taking the rest of the plasterboard off, it seems that if anything it's just a bit of old mold, so that's put my mind at ease. Agreed, the wood definitely isn't the best quality, but should hopefully be strong enough for the new boards and tiles!