Dry Rot Fungus

This fungus mostly causes decay in areas with restricted ventilation, high humidity and a high moisture content. It can grow through the fabric of a building if conditions are suitable by penetrating brickwork and masonry and behind plaster decaying any timber in its path. Decaying timber develops ‘cuboidal’ cracking and is usually overgrown by masses of grey-white mycelium. Plate like fruiting bodies produce millions of rusty red spores as a reddish dust and these spores spread the fungal infection to other areas. 


Dry Rot
Dry Rot
     

Wet Rot Fungus

This fungus develops as a result of water penetration such as in the opened mitre of door and window frames, where plumbing is faulty or a major leak is occurring. High moisture levels are necessary for wet rot to develop and the wood characteristically splits along the grain where decay occurs. 

Timber can also be infested with wood borers:

  • Common furniture beetle
  • Deathwatch beetle
  • Powder post beetle
  • Wood boring weevils
  • House longhorn beetle

 

Woodworm is the most common cause of insect attack on softwoods in buildings and is often to be found in structural timbers, roofs, floors and joists. The female adult lays her eggs onto the susceptible timbers and they hatch into larvae which in turn burrow into the timber gradually weakening it. This process can take at least three years with the larvae growing to a length of 2.5mm. After the pupal stage, the adult beetles emerge from the timber through a 2mm flight (exit) hole. 


Dry Rot
Dry Rot
     

Wood boring weevils are commonly found attacking partly decayed wood, with both adults larvae causing the wood to break down by burrowing, principally along the grain and leaving a thin paper veneer of wood separating the borings of more commonly found in flooring materials.  Flight holes are ragged in outline and less then 2.5mm in diameter. 

Dry Rot

 

 

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