The rapid growth of Dry Rot fungus
Dry Rot Fungus (Serpula lacrymans)
East Molesey, London
The rapid growth of Dry Rot fungus can sometimes be surprising.
The 2 photographs below were taken only 17 days apart.
These dramatic pictures show a dry rot fruiting body, which is the reproduction stage of the fungal cycle and is often the first sign to alert clients of a problem.
By this stage, the damage had already been done, the floor joists had been severely infected and the whole suspended floor would need to be replaced.
This was only one room within a large building that would require further investigation.
We found evidence of dry rot infections in several other locations throughout the building, some active, others historic.
Microdrill and Ultrasonic Decay Detection equipment were used to assess the sub-surface condition of timbers to ensure that only the minimum of material would need to be removed.
Only a few rooms were used within the building, which may explain why the outbreak had gone undetected for so long.
Lead had been stolen from the roof which had allowed rainwater to ingress, causing extensive damage to the building and facilitating the dry rot outbreak.
Exposure Surveying Ltd made recommendations that focused on making the building watertight and stabilising the internal environment before reinstatement works commenced.