Dry Rot

Dry Rot treatments from the experts: Timberwise

Timberwise are experts in all forms of fungal decay. From identifying the dry rot through to the correct treatment, you can trust Timberwise with your problems.

The Problem

Both Dry Rot (Serpula Lacrymans) and Wet Rot can cause structural defects in buildings. Not only is it unsightly but it is also unhealthy. It can grow at an alarming rate in certain conditions. These problems are usually caused by dampness, running water, poor ventilation and bad maintenance or a combination of these conditions.

Dry Rot is the most serious of all wood rotting fungi. For fungal decay to begin it requires water to penetrate wood which then allows bacteria and micro fungi to colonise resulting in the partial breakdown of the cell structure. The timber then become more porous and potentially wetter. If the moisture content is sustained above 30% then Dry Rot can colonize and germinate which inevitably leads to decay.

As Dry Rot spores are airborne this means that all properties are susceptible to attack given the right conditions. Once germination is established the fungus can spread rapidly, even though thick masonry walls, in search of timber causing potentially widespread and extensive damage if not treated at the earliest instant.

The History of Dry Rot

Originally known as Merulius Lacrymans (meaning Tears of the Blackbird as it was thought originally that the fungus was spread by blackbirds) the fungi now known as Dry Rot can be traced back to 1720. By 1827 the name had changed to Serpula Lacrymans as a result of the snake like growth of the hyphae which evntually come together to form mycelium growth. At the ends of the hyphae tear like droplets of water appear (this is the Dry Rot’s way of controlling moisture) hence the term Lacrymans meaning tears.

dry_rot_tears_1a

dry_rot_tears_2a

The Lifecycle

Like wood boring beetles, fungi too have their own life cycle 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 lifecycle 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 it 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 lifecycle in the short animation below:

Pictures

sporophore4 sporophore2

sporedust1 structural_fungal2

The Solution

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 Summary

Dry Rot, Wet Rot and Fungal Decay

The sight of fungal decay can strike horror into property owners. Be it dry rot with its fruiting bodies and orange spore dust or wet rot with its cotton wool like mycelium Timberwise can effectively treat and remove dry rot, wet rot and other forms of fungal decay. Timberwise have over 40 years experience in the correct identification of fungal decay and ultimatley the treatment of dry and wet rots. Our range of treatments will solve your problem with the minimum of fuss. With the benefit of a long term guarantee you can be sure that your fungal decay problem will be taken care of for good!