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Dry Rot Treatment
'Dry rot' (Serpula lacrymans) is a wood destroying fungi, which requires the presence of moisture in timbers during its initial stages of growth.
Water that penetrates the wood allows bacteria and micro fungi to colonise. These break down the cell structure of the timber and the wood becomes more porous which allows it to become wetter.
Dry rot can begin by a minute spore landing on the damp timber. The spore grows and forms hyphae (fine filiments), which secrete enzymes and break down the wood.
The breaking down of the wood releases sugars, which when respired with air produce carbon dioxide, water and energy for the growth of the fungus. When the wood is broken down and utilised for food, shrinkage, loss of weight, loss of strength and cracking will occur. It is the shrinkage, which causes the typical cuboidal cracking of the timber, often associated with the presence of dry rot.
As the dry rot grows the hyphae develops into a large mass, known as the mycelium. The mycelium is white and cotton wool like, although in some conditions it may be silky grey and tinged with yellow and lilac patches.
Within the mycelium, strands will form. These strands can penetrate brickwork, pass over inert substances and colonize other timber in the vicinity. It is the ability for the fungus to travel away from the food source, which makes dry rot so destructive.
Advanced growth of the fungus will create a fruiting body, which resembles a fleshy pancake. Large numbers of spores frequently collect around the fruiting body and form a red dust. The dust can often be visible in areas where there is no significant attack of dry rot.
Professional diagnosis is essential to establish the extent of the dry rot outbreak in order to minimise disruption. Treatment of dry rot may often require the removal of structurally weakened timber and wall plaster, together with extensive re-instatement works. However, the first priority is always to eliminate the water source causing the attack and to promote the rapid drying of the property.
Fungicidal treatments are often considered necessary to control the attack and reduce the chances of re-infection.
Where outbreak occurs, the concealed infection is frequently well established before first evidence appears. Fast specialist action is required if further extensive damage and decay is to be avoided.