Hidden Dangers: Timber Decay Fungi in Perth Homes

Of all the many timber pest threats facing the average home in Perth, there is one that many never see coming. Many homeowners learn about pests like borers and termites that threaten the wood within their houses. After all, those threats have been in the news, or are simply discussed with at least some degree of regularity. For far too many homeowners, however, the one pest that they never dream will hit their house is also one of the most destructive: timber decay fungi.

What is Timber Decay Fungi?

Okay, some might say that timber decay fungi should not actually be categorized as a pest, per se. After all, it doesn’t crawl or fly around in your home, and you don’t necessarily deal with it as you would other living pests. So, in that respect it is definitely unlike other living organisms that move with purpose to destroy your home. However, given its destructive capability and ability to impact the structural integrity of your house, it deserves to be considered as a true pest in every other sense of the word.

Fungi are just what you picture when you hear the word “fungus.” They are living organisms that tend to grow in a variety of environments around the planet. Timber decay fungi tend to gather and grow in areas where there is a steady supply of moisture and a near-constant temperature. As you might expect, that means that they are more commonly located deeper inside the timber than anywhere closer to the surface, where they feast on the wood’s nutrients until they have exhausted the supply. Sometimes the newer fungus will use the older organisms for food as the infestation spreads.

Differing Types of Fungi

As with insect species, there are many different types of fungi -and not all of them are dangerous to timber. Many varieties are incapable of growing on wood, in fact. The ones that can, however, can be incredibly destructive. Species like Sapstain only affect sapwood sugar, and do no structural damage, while some other species only affect cellulose within the timber. The truly destructive ones, however, impact both the cellulose content and the lignin that bonds wood fibers together.

Brown rot fungus is a common threat to floorboards, while white rot typically attacks weatherboards. Windowsills and joinery can be affected by both brown and white rot fungi. They and other types of fungi each have their own identifying characteristics:

• White rot: This stringy white fungus is known for attacking lignin and cellulose, leaving behind a white, frayed surface that is characteristic of delignification. This tends to make an attack by white rot relatively easy to distinguish from a brown rot infestation.
• Brown rot: This fungus variety leaves the lignin alone, attacking only cellulose. As a result, the wood is weakened and often cracks in patterns that go against the timber grain. Infested wood is often left a darker shade of brown.
• Mould: Mould is not actually a threat to timber, but its presence in the home should be considered a sign that fungus rot of some sort may exist. Mould requires the same type of moisture concentration that invites fungi to take up residence, so if you find mould fungi, you should also check for the presence of a timber decay fungal colony.
• Soft rot: Soft rot fungus primarily attacks the wood’s cellular walls. Like other brown rots, it causes timber to have cross-grain cracks.

How Widespread Is It?

While some people associate things like fungal growth and mould infestations with improper care of a home that is simply not true. The sad truth is that fungal spores are virtually everywhere in the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth, and those spores are drawn to moisture. For obvious reasons, therefore, these types of infestations are present throughout Perth, across Western Australia, and in most other places on the planet. Fungal growth can take root in any location where moisture can form in wood.

What Causes It?

Timber is always dried before it is used in construction, so one would think that these types of infestations couldn’t occur. The fact is, however, that wood has a natural inclination to regain that original moisture level. That inclination results in the timber actively working to absorb any moisture it finds in a given area. While that is a normal process, it can become a problem when that moisture reaches a point where it is above the 25% equilibrium level. At that point, fungal spores that have fallen from the air attach themselves to the wood and germinate.

These spores then attack the timber’s cellular walls, working their way into the structure of the wood and consuming it to feed the decay fungi growth as it establishes a colony. These timber decay fungi only require four basic things to survive and prosper in their new colony. They need the right amount of moisture to be present in their new home. They require the proper level of oxygen. They must have the appropriate temperature to encourage growth. Finally, they need a sustainable supply of quality food – namely, the timber in your home.

It is important to note that it is all but impossible to prevent a number of these factors. The wood is going to be present in your home, so you cannot deny fungi the food they want. Oxygen is needed for your own survival, so that factor will always be present as well. Wood temperature – both on the exterior and interior of the timber – is difficult to control. The only factor that you can exercise control over to deprive these organisms of the ability to establish a colony in your home is the one they most crave: moisture. If you can keep the moisture down to below a 205 threshold, the spores can never germinate.

How Can You Treat It?

Before you can treat this infestation, you must first identify it. Often times, the only real indication that there is a fungal infection in your home occurs when you identify structural weaknesses. Weakened floorboards, corrupted areas of the roof, damaged windowsills, and other structural destruction can all serve as indicators that a problem is present. Some indications can also include discoloring on timber, if the affected area is in a visible location.

Regardless of how the issue is brought to your attention, the main thing to remember is that fungal infestations should be addressed by professionals. Some moulds may also be present, and some can be harmful to human health. An expert should be called onto the scene to perform an inspection, evaluate the presence of any infestation, assess any damage, and determine the best course of action.

Treatment focuses on controlling the moisture content of the wood in your home to deny the fungus its most crucial survival need, as well as specific applications designed to provide the timber in your home better protection against these organisms:

1. Water Drainage Issues. In many instances where fungi have colonized an area, nearby water sources are draining into the location or there are existing plumbing issues that are increasing the moisture in the home. Often times, these issues can be corrected, resulting in a lowering of the home’s moisture levels and the destruction of fungal colonies.
2. In poorly ventilated areas- especially around the subfloor region – moisture can rise due to a lack of air circulation that would otherwise foster drier conditions. In many instances, a simple blocked conduit or flaw in the ventilation design can result in inhibition of airflow and a corresponding rise in moisture levels. Devising a solution to these circulation issues can eliminate the problem and guard against future infestations.
3. Direct application of treatments. When an infestation is present, it is important to treat the wood after the fungus has been removed. There are specific products that can provide that wood with greater protection. In addition, waterproofing treatments can ensure that the timber remains free of most moisture on a more long-term basis.

In the most severe cases, advanced wood rot may require that the affected timber be removed altogether. Depending on the extent of the damage, that may necessitate anything from a minor replacement of affected timber to a more comprehensive remodeling effort in really damaged areas of the structure. Naturally, any replacement should involve the use of timber that has been pre-treated to avoid future problems.

Obviously, the best results for the homeowner occur when infestations are prevented altogether. That requires an understanding of why they occur, and how you can impact the conditions in your home to ensure that the elements required for fungal colonization are not readily available for the organisms. Homeowners in the Perth area should consider the likelihood that their home might already be infested with this fungal pest, and take steps to ensure that they are protected from the hidden dangers that timber decay fungi can cause. Most important, they should be sure to contact a professional pest control provider as soon as they have reason to believe that a problem exists.