Dry Rot and Wet Rot

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. Dry Rot 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 from dry rot 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.

Treatment 
 
Special low odour micro-emulsion preservative fluids are applied by spray, brush, or in paste and gel form.  

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