Today we have some photos showing an outbreak of Dry rot discovered by one our Timber and Damp specialists in the Manchester area. Timberwise Manchester were called to provide a pre-purchase Timber and Damp survey on an empty property to identify if there were any potential pitfalls that the prospective owner needed to know about. Upon walking into the hallway the tell tale sign of ‘spongy’ floorboards gave a clue of what was to come! The pictures below give an indication of the destructive power of Dry rot. The outbreak had resulted in the structural breakdown of the sub floor joists and floor boards in the kitchen and hallway.
Dry rot fruiting body growing on the door casing in the kitchen
Another Dry rot fruiting body in the hallway storage cupboard
Sheet mycelium growth of Dry rot below the floor timbers in the hallway.
The Timberwise answer to this Dry rot outbreak
To rectify the damage caused by the Dry rot outbreak Timberwise removed the damaged flooring, joists, skirting boards and other affected timbers. The area was then treated with a fungicide and damaged timbers replaced
What to do if you suspect Dry rot in your property
Firstly don’t panic! If you suspect that you may have a Dry rot problem simply call 0800 288 8660 and arrange to have a survey carried out of the timbers by one of our qualified timber surveyors. Alternatively complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.
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.
Some pictures today from one of our Timberwise Manchester Dry Rot specialists – a great example of what can happen when you combine moisture and poor ventilation in a mothballed cellar environment – You can create the perfect breeding ground for Dry Rot! Timberwise were called upon to survey this unused basement at the bottom of a store in St Helens, Merseyside as it was apparent to the owner that there was a problem with Dry Rot. Only when our surveyor inspected the basement fully was the true extent of the Dry Rot outbreak known.
The pictures below show the Dry Rot outbreak in a little more detail
Upon initial inspection the basement appears dark and damp but looking carefully you can see mycelium growth associated with Dry Rot behind the suspended ceiling.
Having removed some of the suspended ceiling it soon became clear that the Dry Rot had spread throughout the basement covering in total approx. 35% of the basement area.
The Dry Rot was feeding on the timbers that held the suspended ceiling in place and left unchecked would continue to feed on the rest of the timber in the basement.
Our solution to this Dry Rot problem
To prevent a further attack of Dry Rot our solution involved the installation on an in-line fan system to increase ventilation to the basement area as well as removing and replacing all the infected timbers and sterilising any intact timbers to make sure there is no reappearance of the fungal decay.
What should I do if I suspect Dry Rot in my property?
Dry Rot is one of the most feared fungal decays and if found in a property needs expert treatment to ensure the out break is contained and not allowed to spread. Timberwise are experts in treating Dry Rot and have been for over 45 years. To arrange a survey from one of our Dry Rot experts simply pick up the phone and call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line dry rot survey request form.
When Wirral Borough Council noticed a musty smell in the historic Vale House building in Wallasey on the Wirral they suspected that they had a damp rot problem. Only when they investigated the cellar did they realise that the damp rot was actually Dry Rot.
The Dry Rot Problem
Dry Rot is the most feared of all rot fungus and required urgent attention before it caused severe structural problems to the building. The fungal decay experts at Timberwise Liverpool were called upon to provide a solution to their Dry Rot problems. Following a comprehensive survey of the timbers it was apparent that the property had problems with wood boring insects (Common Furniture Beetle and Wood Boring Weevil) as well as out breaks of Dry Rot and Wet Rot. The Dry Rot outbreak was feeding on the floor timbers and as a result making the floor above structurally unstable.
The team from Timberwise Liverpool removed all the damaged floor timbers and plaster from the area under Dry Rot attack. The basement area including all masonry and the basement over-site was then irrigated and sterilized to prevent a further Dry Rot outbreak. New protected timbers were then reinstated to finish the job.
What Should I do if I have a Dry Rot Problem?
If you suspect that you have a problem with Dry Rot don’t panic! Simply call 0800 288 8660and arrange to have a survey carried out of the timbers by a qualified timber surveyor. Alternatively complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.
Historic Vale House on the Wirral
A view of the floorboards from underneath showing clear signs of wood boring beetle damage
A sheet of mycelium growth on timber
Mycelium growth spreading in the basement. The "tears" of moisture can clearly be seen
Mycelium growing over what was a cast iron fireplace
Mycelium on the joists in the basement. Growth can also be seen on some cord hanging down from a joist.
Dry Rot – a name that normally strikes fear into property owners!
This photo taken by a Timberwise surveyor shows a wooden floor that has been attacked by True Dry Rot – or to give it its correct name Serpula Lacrymans.
Clearly visible on the floor boards are Rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs and cords of mycelium growth that conduct nutrients and water back to the body of the Dry Rot outbreak - basically Rhizomorphs feed the Dry Rot growth when it has run out of a food source.
Rhizomorphs can be up to 6mm in diameter and can be relatively brittle when dry.
Also visible in the photo is the red spore dust from the Dry Rot fruiting body (Sporophore). The fruiting body is created when the Dry Rot becomes stressed due to temperature, humidity or a lack of nutrients.
What should you do if you suspect Dry Rot in your property?
Dry Rot adapts well to to the environment within buildings. As such Dry Rot is one of the fastest forms of decay and one of the most difficult to eradicate. If you suspect you have a Dry Rot outbreak in a property you need a Dry Rot specialist to survey the problem and recommend the best cause of action to treat the Dry Rot problem.
Dry Rot treatment from the experts
Timberwise have been treating Dry Rot problems for over 40 years and our team of experienced surveyors are experts in their field. To contact Timberwise to arrange a Dry Rot survey call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.
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.
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
