A couple of photos from one of the Timberwise Manchester surveyors taken on a recent survey of a former hospital in Bowden, Cheshire. The hospital which was opened in 1885 has been unoccupied since 2004. With a new hospital been planned the local NHS trust are now in the process of selling the property which will potentially be split into apartments. The site is historically important and is made up of a collection of attractive Victorian buildings.
Timberwise were called upon to provide a survey of the property and determine the extent of the Dry Rot outbreak that had taken hold in the years that the buildings had stood dormant. The decay had caused some structural breakdown and had caused floors to collapse in places. The Dry Rot had spread from the basement through to the second floor.
The pictures below give an indication of the extent of the Dry Rot outbreak. The first one shows the extent of the Dry Rot outbreak in the basement area. Mycelium growth can be seen in abundance.
The second picture shows how Dry Rot spores can spread. As part of the Dry Rot life cycle ,when stressed the Dry Rot produces a sporophore or fruiting body which is a self reproduction organ. This allows the spore bearing surface of the sporophore to shed spores into the atmosphere so that the new spores can land again, hopefully in the right environment to carry on germinating and extending the growth of the Dry Rot.
Here the orange coloured spores can be seen on the lavatory as well as the basin and grab rails.
What to do if you suspect Dry Rot in your property
First and foremost don’t panic! Timberwise are experts in identifying the source of the Dry Rot as well as providing the necessary remedial treatments to resolve the problem. Simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete the on-line Dry Rot survey request form.
A great photo today from our London surveyor of the dreaded Dry Rot. Our team in London recieved a call from a distressed home owner following the discovery of what looked like Dry Rot spores in a utility room. Our surveyor tracked down the source of the Dry Rot outbreak to the sub-floor where he took the photo.
From the picture you can clearly see that the Dry Rot is growing on what appears to be new timbers. It then came to light that the owner had previously had a problem with Dry Rot that she thought had been treated which resulted in the fitting of new joists to replace decayed timbers. It would appear though that the previous Dry Rot outbreak was not treated correctly, hence the return of the Dry Rot problem. Here the Dry Rot can be seen travelling over over the new timbers and previously treated areas in search of new timbers to colonise.
The moral to this tale: If you suspect a problem with Dry Rot or any other type of fungal decay call in an expert to identify the problem and provide a solution to make sure that the problem does not come back!
Do you have a Dry Rot problem?
If you suspect you have a problem with Dry Rot don’t panic! Our team of surveyors are experts in diagnosing Dry Rot and tracking down the source of the problem. To arrange a survey with one of our Dry Rot experts simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.
Some pictures today from one of our remedial surveyors who was called out to a case of Dry Rot that had taken hold in a property in Peterborough.
Dry Rot under a radiator
Close up of Dry Rot beneath a radiator
This Victorian property had at some point had a leaking down pipe that had led to water ingress creating the ideal breeding conditions for Dry Rot fungus.
What should I do if I suspect Dry Rot in my property?
Dry Rot outbreaks are normally accompanied with some of the following symptoms:
1) Any affected wood shrinks, darkens and cracks in a ‘cuboidal’ manner
2) A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow tends to develop in less humid conditions.
3) White, fluffy ‘cottonwool’ like mycelium develops under humid conditions. ‘Teardrops’ may develop on the growth.
4) Strands develop within the mycelium growth; these are brittle and when dry crack when bent.
5) Fruiting bodies are a soft, fleshy pancake or bracket with an orange-ochre surface. The surface has wide pores.
Rust red coloured spore dust is frequently seen around fruiting bodies.
6) Active wood rot decay produces a musty, damp odour.
Get a Dry Rot experts opinion!
If you suspect an outbreak of Dry Rot in your property don’t panic! Call Timberwise on 0800 288 8660and request a Dry Rot survey - alternatively complete our Dry Rot on-line survey request form
Timberwise as experts in dampness can provide homeowners with timber and damp surveys. A majority of timber and damp issues in the home go unnoticed until the property is on the market and a survey is required on the instructions of either the mortgage lender of the house buyer. Thats when Timberwise can help with a timber and damp survey!
We can provide a full report on our findings which also includes our recommendations to rectify or alleviate the causes of dampness in the property. The report will also give details of any works that maybe required to be carried out. If no treatments are needed, we will say so!
A qualified expert opinion from the property care experts
It is vital that when having a timber and damp survey carried out on a property that any problems are correctly identified in order to specify the correct remedial treatments. It is important therefore that the surveyor carrying out the survey is an experienced qualified surveyor. Timberwise, as members of the PCA (Property Care Association), can give you the peace of mind that our qualified surveyors are some of the most experienced in the property care industry.
A survey by a trained surveyor can also save you money! It happens all too often that surveyors mistake penetrating damp and condensation problems for rising damp – this can then lead to works that are costly and unnecessary as these two problems can usually be remedied at a fraction of the cost of remedial works
Further help and advice about timber and damp surveys
For more information on timber and damp surveys and to see what is involved with a timber and damp survey from Timberwise check out our timber and damp survey page. To arrange a timber and damp survey call 0800 288 8660 or complete our timber and damp survey request form on-line.
Following on from our recently launched Dry Rot video podcast today we look at Dry Rot Mycelium growth.
This fantastic picture clearly shows the Mycelium spreading across the floor of the uninhabited basement. The Mycelium is spreading to find a new source of food and looks to be feeding on the rotting timber that is visible. Mycelium can travel great distances to find new sources of food and it is this ability to grow over great distances (it can can even go through bricks and mortar!) that allows a Dry Rot outbreak to progressively destroy timbers throughout an entire property. The Mycelium is also showing signs of moisture, possibly from removing the water from the timber it has been feeding on.
Dry Rot treatment
Dry Rot has many different stages in its life cycle. Dry Rot treatment starts initially with identifying where the Dry Rot is in its life cycle. Timberwise have over 4 decades experience in treating Dry Rot problems and our trained surveyors are experts in their field. If you require advice on Dry Rot or a Dry Rot survey simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line Dry Rot survey form.
Learn more about Dry Rot from the Dry Rot specialists Timberwise.
This short video podcast looks at the causes of Dry Rot, the life cycle of Dry Rot, the dangers of Dry Rot in properties as well as the best way to treat a Dry Rot problem.
Timberwise have over 4 decades experience in the successful treatment of Dry Rot problems and can specify a range of Dry Rot solutions to cure your Dry Rot problem.
For more information on Dry Rot visit our Dry Rot pages where there is a useful video giving advice on treating Dry Rot along with other useful information.
Todays photo from our surveyors files is of Dry Rot Mycelium Growth. Dry Rot is a wood destroying fungus and can cause wide spread structural damage if left untreated and is one of the most feared forms of fungal decay.
If you suspect that you have Dry Rot in your property don’t panic! Timberwise have over 4 decades experience in the treating of Dry Rot in properties. For more information on Dry Rot check out our other Dry Rot pages on this website. We also have an article written by The Expert that looks in detail at Dry Rot as well an an animation that looks at the life cycle of Dry Rot. To arrange a Dry Rot survey simply call 0800 288 8660 or click here to arrange a Dry Rot Survey on-line.
Like wood boring beetles, fungi too have their own life cycle - here we look at the life cycle of probably the most economically important species of fungal decay in buildings, the True Dry Rot fungus, otherwise known as Serpula lacrymans.
Dry Rot needs 3 elements to continue its growth within timber. These are water, air and a food source, in this case timber. The fungus obtains its food from the timber by breaking down the cell walls of the timber which ultimately results in a loss of strength in the timber and eventually the overall collapse of the timber. For the purposes of this example we will assume that the timber has a moisture content of between 25% and 30% for optimum germination and growth of the fungus.
The life cycle starts with a spore landing on the timber in the correct environment. The spores are omnipresent which means that they are in the atmosphere all the time. If you were to take a sample of the air in the room that you are in and micro filtered it down then we would more than likely see that dry rot spores were evident in the filters. As the spores land on the timber they germinate and produce hyphee growth.
This is a similar process to that of placing seeds in compost. The hyphee growth is the root of the spores. The hyphee growth then mass and colonise together to produce mycelium growth – this is white, and almost “fluffy” in appearance. After a period of time the Dry Rot becomes stressed – this happens when one of the 3 necessary elements for growth (water, air or food) is removed or if the Dry Rot is in the vicinity of light.
When stressed the Dry Rot produces a sporophore or fruiting body which is a self reproduction organ. This allows the spore bearing surface of the sporohfore to shed into the atmosphere so that the new spores can land again, hopefully in the right environment to carry on germinating and extending the growth of the Dry Rot.
The presence of Dry Rot is usually associated with a building defect allowing ingress of moisture – for example, a leaking gutter or a cracked down pipe. If a building is correctly maintained and kept relatively water tight then generally this would preclude the presence of Dry Rot. Lets now look in detail at the various parts of the life cycle.
Here we see a short video represenation of the Dry Rot life cycle:
Timberwise have over 4 decades of experience in Dry Rot treatment. Our fully trained and experienced Surveyors will identify the type, and the extent, of any decay and will produce a suitable specification for the treatment and eradication of the problem. You will also have the peace of mind from a 20 year guarantee for the work carried out.
Timberwise will:
Identify the nature, type and extent of the decay
Determine the cause, finding the source of moisture
Propose the cure for the rot with full specification and method statement for the rot treatments
Advise what additional steps (if any) are required to safeguard the property
In this post we look at the life cycle of Dry Rot – the most mysterious of wood rotting funghi.
Like wood boring beetles, fungi too have their own lifecycle and we are now going to look at the lifecycle of probably the most economically important species of fungal decay in buildings, the True Dry rot fungus, otherwise known as Serpula lacrymans.
Dry Rot needs 3 elements to continue its growth within timber. These are water, air and a food source, in this case timber. The fungus obtains its food from the timber by breaking down the cell walls of the timber which ultimately results in a loss of strength in the timber and eventually the overall collapse of the timber. For the purposes of this example we will assume that the timber has a moisture content of between 25% and 30% for optimum germination and growth of the fungus.
The life cycle starts with a spore landing on the timber in the correct environment. The spores are omnipresent which means that they are in the atmosphere all the time. If you were to take a sample of the air in the room that you are in and micro filtered it down then we would more than likely see that dry rot spores were evident in the filters. As the spores land on the timber they germinate and produce hyphee growth.
This is a similar process to that of placing seeds in compost. The hyphee growth is the root of the spores. The hyphee growth then mass and colonise together to produce mycelium growth – this is white, and almost “fluffy” in appearance. After a period of time the Dry Rot becomes stressed – this happens when one of the 3 necessary elements for growth (water, air or food) is removed or if the dry rot is in the vicinity of light.
When stressed the Dry Rot produces a sporophore or fruiting body which is a self reproduction organ. This allows the spore bearing surface of the sporohfore to shed into the atmosphere so that the new spores can land again, hopefully in the right environment to carry on germinating and extending the growth of the Dry Rot.
The presence of Dry Rot is usually associated with a building defect allowing ingress of moisture – for example, a leaking gutter or a cracked down pipe. If a building is correctly maintained and kept relatively water tight then generally this would preclude the presence of Dry Rot. Lets now look in detail at the various parts of the life cycle.
Here we see a photographic represenation of the Dry Rot lifecycle:
A piece of wood which has the correct moisture content
The lifecycle begins when the spores land on the timber
The hyphee growth become visible
The hyphee growth colonise to produce mycelium growth
When stressed the dry rot produces a fruiting body to reproduce
Timberwise as experts in dampness can provide homeowners with timber and damp surveys. A majority of timber and damp issues in the home go unnoticed until the property is on the market and a survey is required on the instructions of either the mortgage lender of the house buyer. Thats when Timberwise can help with a timber and damp survey!
