Fungus and Mold
Each year decay fungi cause just as much damage to homes and businesses as termites. Much like you and I, wood destroying organisms need air, food and water to survive. Obviously we can’t do anything about the air and their food source is the wood in our homes. However we can eliminate the moisture on which they thrive. As long as they have water, no amount of fungicides will rid the wood of infection. If the moisture can not be removed, the wood should be replaced with dry lumber. If the wood is in an area where it is subjected to moist conditions then pressure treated wood should be used. The wood that these organisms infest may be greatly weakened even before the decay can be seen.
White Rot
As White Rot infests wood it causes the break down of both the lignin (a chemical compound that is an integral part of the cell walls) and cellulose (a primary structural component of plants). This break down causes the wood to lose its color and it will appear whiter than normal. White Rot will not crack wood but when severely damaged the wood will shrink and collapse. This organism generally attacks hardwood materials, causing it to gradually lose its strength and become spongy to the touch.
Brown Rot
Wood infested with brown Rot acquires a brownish stain and shrinks abnormally during drying. The result is cracks that run perpendicular to the wood grain. It attacks the wood’s sugars and starches, mostly attacking soft wood. Many decay fungi may grow for long periods without producing any external evidence of their presence, however Brown Rot produces “fruiting bodies” on the surface of the of infected wood. These fruiting bodies produce millions of tiny spores which serve to spread the decay fungus to other areas.
