Timber Decay / Infestation
Wood is a durable material which is resistant to most attack provided it remains dry. Through prolonged wetting it can lead to a risk of decay by wood rotting fungi and insect attack. There are two main classes of wood rotting fungi, the brown rots and the white rots. Brown rots cause the wood to become dark in colour and crack along and across the grain. White rots cause the wood to become lighter in colour and fibrous in texture.
DRY ROT
Dry Rot or Serpula Lacrymans sp is a major building decay fungus often causing extensive damage. The dry rot fungus has the ability to spread on wood and other cellulose containing material, and is also able to grow through brick and plaster. Dry rot will only affect timber that is damp, typically affecting timber with a moisture content of 20-35%. In suitable damp conditions dry rot growth can extend a distance of several metres from its food source. This type of rot is extremely destructive, however it is sensitive and can only survive in a limited range of moisture and temperature conditions. If you remove these conditions the rot will stop growing, become dormant and die after a few years. If these favourable conditions return during the dormancy stage it can begin to grow again. The primary aims of remedial works are to establish dry and well ventilated conditions. The rotten wood shrinks and splits into cuboidal pieces, the wood becoming lighter in weight and dull brown in colour. Fungal strands are grey or white 2-3mm in thickness, in damp darker places white silky 'cotton wool' growths can be found.
WET ROT
The most common Wet Rot is Cellar Fungus or Coniphoria Puteana sp which develops in saturated on very damp timber in buildings. It is commonly found in bathrooms, roofs, cellars and window frames where persistent leaks or condensation occurs. The moisture content of timber for decay by this fungus is around 45-50%.
The attacked timber becomes dark brown in colour or black with yellow brown streaks in patches. The fungus itself can produce dark brown branching strands on the surface of the wood, decay taking place within the wood. The strands unlike dry rot do not spread any distance from the timber. The fungus ttacks wood that is very wet and will die as soon as the timber dries out.
Other forms of wet rot fungus include the mine fungus (Fibroporia Vaillantii sp) and oak rot (Donkioporia Expansa sp)
Measures to control an outbreak of wet rot are much less than dry rot attack as it is only limited to areas of damp timber. Removing the source of moisture and drying the timber can be all that is required, however assessing the structural integrity of all timbers attacked by fungal decay should always be carried out.
Insect Infestation
Insect Infestation
A number of insects, mainly beetles are able to use wood as a food source and some of them can cause serious damage to building timbers. Damage caused by wood boring insects does not always indicate a need for remedial treatment so correct identification is essential before any consideration can be given to whether treatment is needed.
COMMON FURNITURE BEETLE (Anobium Punctatum sp.)
This beetle is one of the most frequent cause of damage. It attacks the sapwood of softwoods and some hardwoods. It can be found in all constructional timbers such as lofts, under stairs, ceiling beams, floorboards and timbers in contact with solid walls.
DEATH WATCH BEETLE (Xestobium Rufovillosum sp.)
The attacks are mainly confined to damp or decayed hardwoods, particularly Oak. It is mostly found in the structural timbers of older buildings such as wall plates, lintels, joist end and other built in timbers where it can spread. The beetle is much larger than the Furniture Beetle and therefore causes damage more quickly.
POWDERPOST BEETLE (Lyctus Brunneus sp.)
This beetle attacks only the sapwood of recently seasoned hardwoods such as Oak and Elm which have a high starch content. They very rarely attack softwoods. They are commonly found in furniture, block strip flooring and oak timbers, the attack usually originates in the stockyard or storeroom and so by the time the attack has been discovered, the timber has a reduced starch content preventing further attack.
WOOD BORING WEEVILS (Pentarthrum Huttoni sp.)
Wood weevils attack both softwoods and hardwoods in damp conditions and is usually secondary to fungal decay. They are commonly found in poorly ventilated floors, cellars and wood in contact with solid damp floors and walls.