Fungus Control in Montgomery, AL
Moisture can provide an environment for fungus and other insects to thrive in, all while damaging your home. Moisture and fungus can affect not only your flooring system, but can your entire home. Fungus causes as much if not more damage than termites each year.
It is important to have your home inspected to make sure you have no current fungus issues and that you have a proper moisture barrier in place to prevent fungus.
Contact us today for a FREE inspection.
Decay Fungi
Decay fungi can cause severe structural damage to any wood member, even wood species such as redwood and cedar. All that is needed is a source of water in contact with the wood. Decay will occur in untreated wood in direct contact with ground, cement or concrete, or exposed to a source of moisture such as rain seepage, plumbing leaks or condensation. Wood kept dry will never decay!
Brown Rot
Brown rot fungi feed on the wood’s cellulose, a component of the wood’s cell wall, leaving a brown residue of lignin, the substance which holds the cells together. Infested wood may be greatly weakened, even before decay can be seen. Advanced infestations of brown rot are evidenced by wood more brown in color than normal, tending to crack across the grain. When dried, wood previously infested will turn to powder when crushed. Often, old infestations of brown rot which have dried out are labeled as “dry rot.” This is really a deceiving term since wood will not decay when dry.
White Rot
When white rot attacks wood, it breaks down both the lignin and cellulose causing the wood to lose its color and appear whiter than normal. Wood affected by white rot normally does not crack across the grain and will only shrink and collapse when severely degraded. Infested wood will gradually lose its strength and become spongy to the touch.
Water-Conducting Fungi
Most decay fungi are unable to conduct water very far and can only attack moist wood. However, Poria incrassata, called dry rot or the water-conducting fungus, will decay wood which would not be attacked by typical decay fungi. Poria infested wood is often mistakenly identified as subterranean termite damage. This type of fungus can transport water for several feet through large root-like structures called rhizomorphs. Once established, it can quickly spread through a building and destroy large areas of flooring and walls in as little as a year or two.
Typically, infestations of Poria begin in dirt filled porches, damp crawl spaces and basements where wood is in contact with the soil. They also begin in moist concrete or damp bricks. At first, yellowish mycelial fans grow over the surface of joists and sub-floors, or in protected areas. Irregular root-like rhizomorphs may appear on foundations, framing, sub flooring and other moist areas. the rhizomorphs are dirty white when young but turn brown to black with age. They are typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, but can be an inch or more in diameter in old infestations. they are often hidden in concrete, masonry or behind wood structures. Fruiting bodies do not always form, but when they do they are found on well rotted wood and are flat, up to 1/2 inch thick, and pale olive-gray with a dirty white/yellow rim when young. With age they become dry and turn brown to black. The under surface is covered with small pores.
When Poria infested wood dries it usually shrinks and cracks across the such cracks or depressed areas in painted woodwork may be the first evidence of a Poria infestation. The best tool for discovering a Poria infestation is a moisture meter. If wood has a moisture content above 40% and there is no apparent source of water, you are probably confronting Poria incrassata or an infestation of subterranean termites. In either case the wood should be treated as soon as possible.
