Just like mould and mildew, indoor fungus is always caused by moisture. Often described as “building cancer,” dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is a wood-decay fungus that eats away at the cellulose component within wood, leaving it with cuboidal fractures.
Dry rot spreads quickly (by approximately 3 to 5 cm per week) because it has the unique characteristic of being able to transmit moisture to previously dry places, in order to attack them.
In favourable growing conditions, dry rot is generally made up of a white, cottony mycelium that’s pad or cushion shaped. Among the very fine filaments that weave their way through the attacked materials, mycelial cords (syrrotes) travel long distances and even get into masonry joints, in order to collect the moisture they need for their survival. Its characteristic fruiting bodies can be recognized by their soft, fleshy honeycombed appearance and orange (rusty) colour.
The first step in the treatment of dry rot is to restore the building’s proper moisture levels. Once that’s done, all concrete and masonry has to be stripped, flame sterilized, treated by injection and sprayed to destroy all of the mycelium.
Wood that’s too damaged has to be removed and disposed of before healthy wood can be stripped and treated in-depth by injection and/or superficially by spraying.
Unfortunately, the extent of the (often hidden) colonization of structural timber in the building by the fungus sometimes requires major demolition, which is why the inspection and evaluation of all cases should be done by a certified professional.
These are the advantages of using Cryotechnic to treat and eliminate dry rot and other wood-decay fungus.
At Cryotechnic, we received specialized training offered in France by the FCBA on the diagnosis and treatment of dry rot and other wood-decay fungus.
- Guaranteed treatment and results;
- Qualified personnel;
- Approved methods.