inspector57 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 Fungal issues are not normal in my part of the world. For the first time in 20 years I have seen this and I'm stumped as is my pest control guy. The 2x4's seemed to be the only lumber affected in the attic framing. The lumber was still in place but totally mulch. Click to Enlarge 40.48 KB Download Attachment: RIMG6738.JPG 431.07?KB Download Attachment: RIMG7021.JPG 373.39?KB
inspector57 Posted April 4, 2015 Author Report Posted April 4, 2015 Since we don't deal with this in my area, I have not paid much attention so I have some questions. How is this stuff spread? Is it wood species specific? How do you get rid of it and how do you know you have gone far enough? The only advice I could give is to have someone probe all the wood in the attic and replace the damaged stuff. Pretty manageable if it is only the 2x4's that I found which were used for purlin struts, ridge supports, etc. but obviously much harder if it spreads to the rafters and ceiling joists. This house was a pass by my client due to this and the substantial termite damage and disintegrated ducts but I would like to know for future reference.
John Kogel Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 That looks like the type of fungus that only attacks wood. We talk about it a lot - poria species. It may have been already in the wood when it was put in the attic. It is pretty common here to find it growing out in the lumber yard, stacks left uncovered. It won't usually attack dry wood in a house. It gets started when wood is wet for prolonged periods of time. It spreads by spores and some species by direct contact by growing a hairy web. The spores need moisture to start on another piece. Get those 2 pieces out of there and the rest will probably be fine, except that spot on the ridge plank. If that is an older house, there was a recent moisture issue up there, and there could be rot elsewhere.
inspector57 Posted April 4, 2015 Author Report Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks for the information. It makes sense that the fungus arrived on lumber infected before being used in the house. It is rare that moisture in the air would be enough to support the entire life cycle of much of anything, including fungus. Maybe the 2x4's were wet and infected enough when the house was built so that it had enough of a start to continue feeding on the lumber but not so much that it could spread since none of the other dimensional lumber looked effected. Attics hear are hot and dry most of the year but might get enough moisture to sustain life in an unvented attic during the heating season. It just freaked me out that this was spread out over a big part of the attic.
mlparham Posted April 6, 2015 Report Posted April 6, 2015 Did you probe the wood to determine its integrity?
inspector57 Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Posted April 6, 2015 Did you probe the wood to determine its integrity? Yes, mulch on all the 2x4's. A probe easily passed through the otherwise normal looking wood. The white stuff was only visible in a few locations.
mlparham Posted April 6, 2015 Report Posted April 6, 2015 I'm stumped. Maybe drywood termites combined with the presence of the wood yard fungus. That fungus is not a wood destroying fungus and may have affected your evaluation of the issue. Did you notice any gray or black frass in the attic? Did you open up any of the damaged wood with your probe? Did you see any smooth tunnels? If so you found drywood termites.
Marc Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Sure looks like Poria Incrassati, like John K opined. The characteristic webbing isn't there though. Marc
John Kogel Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Look at the second pic along the line where the 2 X 4's are nailed together. That wood is rotten. It may not be a familiar species, but it is a fungus doing the damage. I am 4,000 miles NW of there, but had similar rot in joists last week. Very little fruit showing. No hairy web. Click to Enlarge 63.53 KB Click to Enlarge 44.84 KB Click to Enlarge 62.49 KB
Marc Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Look at the second pic along the line where the 2 X 4's are nailed together. That wood is rotten. It may not be a familiar species, but it is a fungus doing the damage. I am 4,000 miles NW of there, but had similar rot in joists last week. Very little fruit showing. No hairy web. Click to Enlarge 63.53 KB Click to Enlarge 44.84 KB Click to Enlarge 62.49 KB That's 'dry rot', AKA incipient rot as Mike O would call it. I get a lot of that here. It's the worse news any buyer of mine could get. Makes some cry. Not Poria Incrassati. Marc
Tom Raymond Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 This is poria (the white stuff). The webs left the wood surface and wove their way into the fiberglass insulation. In some spots there was more fungal fiber than glass. Click to Enlarge 120.47 KB An ice dam leak above, a flashing breach below, and a leaky window install kept it very well hydrated. There was close to 60 square feet of it.
hausdok Posted April 8, 2015 Report Posted April 8, 2015 Contact Prof. Jeff Morrell at Oregon State University - he's the "Rot Doc." Send him some photos, take a small sample, stick it in a baggie and express mail it to him and he'll probably be able to tell you exactly what it is. This guy is one of the foremost authorities on wood rot on the planet. Google him. http://renewablematerials.oregonstate.edu/jeff-morrell ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
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