Wet & Dry Timber Rot

Timber Fungus

Wood rotting fungi obtain there food by breaking down the walls of wood cells, causing loss of strength of the wood. They can not utilise wood at or below 20% moisture content and therefore do not occur in internal building timbers unless poor design or building faults have led to water entry or condensation.

Not all fungi found in buildings cause wood rot. However, the presence of any fungal growths indicates that damp conditions exist which ae also suitablefor the development of wood rotting species. Remedial measures may be necessary to locate and remove sources of dampness, otherwise there is a risk that wood rotting fungi could become established.

Wood rotting fungi found in buildings can be divided into two major groups according to their effects on wood.

Dry Rot and Wet Rot are wood destroying fungi which attack timber in order to extract food to maintain growth and the generation of spores. Affected timber exhibits significant loss of weight. In buildings the result is the deterioration and ultimately destruction of the timber with serious consequences in the case of structural sections. The problem affects all types of property, historic or modern. Dampness combined with lack of ventilation provides the ideal conditions for fungal attack.

Dry Rot

The true Dry Rot fungus is the more serious requiring fast specialist action to avoid extensive damage. It is malignant and will spread even through thick walls in search of timber to attack.Timber affected by dry rot is brown, dry and brittle with cuboidal fractures and can be crumbled by hand.

It requires over 20% moisture level for spore germination. When dry rot occurs, fine greyish hyphae strands develop from the spore spreading to form mycelial growth which varies from grey to pure white in wet conditions. Sporophores or fruiting bodies give off millions of spores in the form of red dust.

Wet Rot

Sometimes called the cellar fungus, Wet Rot is a common cause of structural defects. It requires a moisture content of 50 to 60% but it does not spread through masonry and growth ceases when the moisture is removed.

How can Verminate help?

Special low odour micro-emulsion preservative fluids are applied by spray, brush, or in paste and gel form. Our skilled joiners can replace defective timbers including flooring, structural and ornate sections.