Is this dry rot

[Bingy man]

So I’ve been working in this house for the last few weeks on and off and I’ve found multiple rotten joists in the floors /ceilings. Finally cleared out the rubbish by way of 4 12 yard skips and started removing the damaged floor boards in the front room and found this on the underside of several boards . I think it’s dry rot but not sure . I have silka 5 star wood treatment which I’m hoping will protect the rest of the timber from further damage. Tia

 

[Adam W.]

Yes if the fruiting body is rust coloured with a white margin.

Don't panic though and try to get hold of a copy of Ridout : Timber Decay before poisoning yourself and the occupants of the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timber-Decay-Buildings-Conservation-Practitioners/dp/0419188207

 

[Tris]

Don't panic though and try to get hold of a copy of Ridout : Timber Decay before poisoning yourself and the occupants of the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timber-Decay-Buildings-Conservation-Practitioners/dp/0419188207

One of my favourite reviews: "manages not to make the subject matter too dry"!

 

[Bingy man]

Yes if the fruiting body is rust coloured with a white margin.

Don't panic though and try to get hold of a copy of Ridout : Timber Decay before poisoning yourself and the occupants of the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timber-Decay-Buildings-Conservation-Practitioners/dp/0419188207

Thanks - fortunately the house is empty and the place is well ventilated as none of the windows were ever sealed from outside.

 

[Adam W.]

That's good, keeping it ventilated and drying it out is what you want. It takes a lot of moisture to get it going, so I wouldn't worry about taking spores home.

It's a plant after all.

Nice photos too, it looks like a beauty. You don't really want to get a lungfull of spores though, that wouldn't be good for you.

 

[Bingy man]

I didn’t know it’s harmful to breathe- it’s all outside now on the bonfire pile- the house has been empty for several years and the only evidence of previous maintenance is bodge job after bodge job. Many thanks for the info though especially about the health risks . A few pics of the bodge jobs

 

[MARK.B.]

Blimey I wonder what other little surprises you will find

 

[Bingy man]

Hopefully that’s the lot as the house is pretty much back to brick . However with 4 chimneys to take down completely you just never know

 

[Adam W.]

A builders bonfire, that brings back memories.

I think they might be frowned upon these days.

 

[Bingy man]

Personally I’d like to burn the lot in one huge bonfire but I’m aware of local busy bodies that can complain and then you have the local fire brigade turn up and get their hoses out . So a little at a time is the plan . I’ll send a few photos when it’s done . Pity bonfire night is so far away.

 

[Wood&StuffLtd]

Do not underestimate an infestation of dry rot (Surpula Lacryman) as it can destroy all the timber in houses as the mycelium can travel through brick and stone. Burn all the effected timber and sterilise all of the parts where the timber has rested. Wear protective clothing and yes the mycelium can travel on clothes to find a suitable place to regerminate. It is a fungus. I was once a Chartered Surveyor and had some experience in dealing with some serious infestations. The Rentokil book was a good reference source. The worst example we experienced was where a piece of infected timber was concreted over in a floor screed and with in a week or so the mycelium was found on the surface of new construction. It all had to be ripped out. Good luck with it

 

[Adam W.]

It doesn't have supernatural powers and like all plants it dies if you dry it out and keep the new construction dry.

 

[pe2dave]

Your neighbours will love you burning that lot?
(And the council? Beware)

 

[mudman]

That's good, keeping it ventilated and drying it out is what you want. It takes a lot of moisture to get it going, so I wouldn't worry about taking spores home.

It's a plant after all.

Nice photos too, it looks like a beauty. You don't really want to get a lungfull of spores though, that wouldn't be good for you.

It's not a plant, it's a fungus.

 

[Adam W.]

It's not a plant, it's a fungus.

I know that.

OK, living organism then....they don't like being dried out either. One thing it doesn't do, like all living organisms is come back from the dead.

If I put a dessicated shitake mushroom on my kitchen tabel, it doesn't miraculously start growing. Likewise, if I put dessicated hyphae or spores of any fungi on my kitchen table, it doesn't miraculously start growing if it remains dry.

 

[pgrbff]

My nearest neighbour in Ireland lived in an 18th C 3 story of basement country house. Whenever we found dry rot all we did was replace any damaged timbers, increase ventilation and remove any sources of dampness, like leaking slates or gutters. No chemicals, not even boron. That was 20 years ago and the dry rot has not returned.

 

[mudman]

I know that.

OK, living organism then....they don't like being dried out either. One thing it doesn't do, like all living organisms is come back from the dead.

If I put a dessicated shitake mushroom on my kitchen tabel, it doesn't miraculously start growing. Likewise, if I put dessicated hyphae or spores of any fungi on my kitchen table, it doesn't miraculously start growing if it remains dry.

And yet you called it a plant twice.
Living organism is a bit of a wide umbrella, just call it a fungus.

But anyway, after the last time a question was raised about dry rot, I found a really good video by Dr. Ridout on the subject after you mentioned him. I think it answers a lot of the questions people might ask about rot in general.

 

[Adam W.]

@mudman

Not everyone knows the difference between fungi and plants, so I was using layman terms so that everyone might follow along.

There's nothing wrong with trying to keep it simple. I humbly appologise and will endeavour to use the correct terminology from now on.

 

[Keith 66]

I have seen some wonderful dry rot in old boats, only way is to cut it all out & burn it.

 

[Bingy man]

I thank each and everyone who has posted on this thread , the information is greatly appreciated, and I know exactly what I’m dealing with. Tomorrow any remaining boards and joists will be removed to protect the remaining timber and then suitably treated . Thanks again all