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  Wet and Dry Rot
Timber with a moisture content of 20% and over is susceptible to wood rotting fungi attack. To cure the problem, the source of the moisture needs to be found and eradicated and the deteriorated timber removed.
In the case of Wet Rot (Coniophora), surrounding sound timbers and surrounding areas need to be sterilized.
Dry Rot (Serpula lacrymans) commonly called "weeping fungus" as it releases water. This fungi is the most destructive and can cause serious structural problems if it is not treated as it can travel through brick work and plaster to find soil and timber. As Dry Rot is so destructive, it is expensive to treat. However, the cost of treatment itself is relatively small in comparison with the building works that are necessary.
Dry Rot thrives in damp humid conditions and again, the source of dampness needs to be found and eradicated and if necessary, ventilation improved.
The treatment of Dry Rot is as follows:
- Cut out and remove any decay timbers together with a margin of at least 750mm beyond the last evidence of fungal decay. Immediately remove decayed timber from site and burn.
- Remove all built-in timbers, e.g. lintels, bonding timbers etc., within the affected areas and replace with steel or concrete according to the local building regulations.
- Where dry rot is present in the sub-soil, removal of the top 50mm should be considered. Sub-soil also sprayed with fungicidal solution. Replacement of timber suspended floors with solid floors should be considered if appropriate.
- Thoroughly clean down all exposed masonry using a wire brush to remove surface fungal growth. Thoroughly clean up and remove all dirt and debris which may contain fungal growth.
Where sterilization of masonry is deemed necessary, then:
- Thoroughly sterilize the surfaces of walls with two or three liberal applications of a fungicidal solution.
- Irrigation by injection into masonry should only be undertaken to isolate an outbreak of dry rot by imposing a “Cordon Sanitaire” (peripheral irrigation).
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