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Timber within buildings that has a moisture content in excess of 20% is likely to be attacked by a wood-rotting fungi. These fungi obtain their food by breaking down wood cell walls, causing loss of strength. They cannot utilise wood below a 20% moisture content and therefore do not occur in internal building timbers unless poor design or building defects allow the presence of water or moisture ingress. There are two main types of wood rotting fungi found in buildings – dry rot and wet rot. The presence of any fungal growths indicate that damp conditions exist and that some remedial treatment is required.
 

Dry Rot (serpula lacrymans)

Following the correct identification of dry rot, remedial treatment will involve:

• establishing the size and significance of the attack. If structural timbers are affected arrange a full structural survey to determine whether structural repairs are necessary.
• Locate and eliminate sources of moisture
• promote rapid drying of the structure
• remove all rotted wood, cutting away timber approximately 500mm beyond the last sign of fungus
• prevent further spread of the fungus within surrounding masonry by using preservatives
• use preservative treated replacement timbers
• treat remaining sound timbers with preservative
• introduce support measures by increasing ventilation or providing a barrier such as a damp proof membrane or joist-hangers between timber and wet brickwork
• re-inspection

Wet Rot

There are many fungal species causing wet rot and the same remedial measures are required for them all. It is therefore not essential to identify the species responsible. All wet rot fungi require a higher moisture content than Dry Rot fungi, typically 30%, but many will achieve optimum growth and decay rates at between 45 and 60% moisture content. Wet rot is commonly found in unprotected timber that has been saturated by water for a long period of time. External joinery and structural timbers embedded or in contact with damp masonry are particularly vulnerable to attack.

Remedial treatment of wet rot will involve;

• establishing the size and significance of the attack. If structural timbers are affected arrange a full structural survey to determine whether structural repairs are necessary.
• Locate and eliminate sources of moisture
• promote rapid drying out structure
• remove all rotted wood
• use preservative treated replacement timbers
• treat remaining sound timbers which are at risk with preservative