2. Irritation and Rashes. If mold is indeed the culprit behind your wood rot, it can also lead to other health issues, such as skin rashes, eye irritation, headaches, and exhaustion. The fungi that causes the rot is a result of warm, damp conditions which are the true menace.

Of all the timber fungi, dry rot is one of the most dangerous, not just to the integrity of your building, but because of the underlying damp problem it represents. Whilst dry rot on its own won’t cause too many health problems, it can cause costly structural damage that will eventually become a health hazard.

Signs of dry rot include:

• damaged or decaying timber.
• damp or musty smell.
• deep cracks in the timber grain.
• brittle timber or timber that crumbles in your hand.
• concentrated patches of orange–brown spore dust.
• grey strands on timber.
• fruiting bodies that look like large mushrooms.

Dry rot will only affect timber that is damp, typically affecting timber with a moisture content in excess of 20%. Any affected timbers should be removed and replaced with pre-treated timber. Any remaining timbers at risk of being affected by the dry rot should be treated with an effective fungicide.

Damaged Timber – Timber affected by dry rot will often darken in in colour and will become so dry and brittle it will break or crumble easily. Timber affected by dry rot will also have distinct “cuboidal cracking.” Concentrated Spore Dust – Dry rot spores are very common and usually harmless.

You can get blastomycosis by contact with moist soil, most commonly where there is rotting wood and leaves. The fungus enters the body through the lungs, where the infection starts. The fungus can then spread to other parts of the body. The disease may affect the skin, bones and joints, and other areas.

Lab experiments have recorded that dry rot spores can germinate approximately seven to ten days after the wood has become damp enough. Older spores can take longer to germinate. As mentioned earlier, though, it can take a long while for signs of dry rot to appear after germination.

Because dry rot can spread quickly through wood and even porous masonry, it’s incredibly important to eliminate all stages of dry rot fungus immediately. The most effective way to do this is to remove and replace all affected wood, and treat the timber in close proximity with a fungicide.

Dry rot is the most serious form of fungus decay in a building, spreads onto and destroys much of the timber. On the other hand, the wet rot fungus occurs more frequently but is less serious, the decay is usually detained to where the timber becomes and stays wet.

In comparison to wet rot, dry rot is more dangerous. It is a type of fungi that spreads rapidly without showing any signs of damage. If you live in a place where dry rot is a common problem, it is highly advised that you get your home inspected professionally before putting it up for sale.

Dry rot is caused by species of fungi that initially attacks wood. If it’s left unchecked, it can quickly move onto masonry and plaster, impacting the structural integrity of your home which can cause long-term problems. Despite its name, dry rot only affects damp timber and structural materials.

Typical indications of dry rot include: 1 Wood shrinks, darkens and cracks in a ‘cuboidal’ manner (see picture) 2 A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow often develops under less humid conditions. 3 White, fluffy ‘cottonwool’ mycelium develops under humid conditions.

Typical indications of dry rot include: A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow often develops under less humid conditions. This ‘skin’ can be peeled like a mushroom. White, fluffy ‘cottonwool’ mycelium develops under humid conditions.

Sprinkle boric acid across wood that shows signs of dry rot. If you’ve caught an instance of dry rot early enough, it can be stopped with boric acid. Boric acid is a powerful fungicide and can eradicate the rot-causing fungi as long as they haven’t penetrated more than 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) into the wood.

The numerous types that trigger wood rot are loosely classified by the three general effects they have on wood. Brown Rot: Often called “dry rot” because the surface of the wood appears dry,…