Dry Rot

Dry rot is one of the most widely knows terms given to describe the decay of wood tissue. Dampness along with lack of ventilation creates the ideal condition for a fuingal attack.

What is Dry Rot?
Dry rot fungus requires a moisture in wood of over 20% for spores to germinate and develop. A fine grey fungal grows from the spore and spreads over and through the wood to adjacent materials. Colour can vary from a dirty grey to pure white in wet conditions. Timber that has been attacked by dry rot becomes dry and brittle with cuboidal fractures and easily crumbles under light pressure in a persons hand.
Dry rot is malignant and will spread through thick walls looking for unaffected timber to attack. Unfortunetly when an outbreak does take place it will have been established for some period of time before the first signs become visible. Fast, proffesional action is essential if you wish to avoid extensive damage and decaying. In time, the fungus can form 'fruiting bodies' - large, pancake-shaped fungi, with rust-red spores on the surface (see photo)