The first thing anyone in the mold industry will tell you is that to keep mold from growing in your home you need to keep water and moisture out. But there also happens to be another kind of mold that can grow in your home despite any leaks, flooding, or other obvious source of moisture. And this mold happens to be one of the most destructive molds around, able to destroy a house within two years.
The mold with the lovely-sounding name, Poria Incrassata, is also called the “house eating mold” or the “water conducting mold.” This mold grows on and deeply penetrates woods, such as the floor or framing of the house. It doesn’t matter if the wood is wet or not because poria gets its water from the soil beneath your house. It is able to grow large, semi-tough, water conducting roots called rhizomorphs which will transport water through vessels from damp soil, into your house, and onto the wood, wetting it enough to support decay.
The mold is strong enough to infiltrate a wood or concrete foundation from below, and quickly take over an entire house. It stays hidden, and spreads fast. Unlike most molds which grow on the surface of material, poria can deeply penetrate objects, causing a loss of structural reliability. Because it grows on the inside of objects, these objects can’t be saved (and this often includes the frame and foundation of a house). Houses have literally collapsed due to a poria incrassata infestation.
Thankfully, poria incrassate is a rare occurrence – but it is found everywhere. You can identify poria by noticing a strange, brown growth that looks kind of like pancake batter on wood. What is more telling is if the surface it is growing on is wet, but there is no obvious water source. If the wood has a moisture content above 40% and there is no obvious source of water, it may very well be infected with poria incrassata.
Poria eats most kinds of common construction woods, such as oak and pine. But it also eats woods that are thought to be naturally decay-resistant like cedar, redwood, cypress, and juniper.
What’s worse is that poria is also resistant to many fungicides which contain copper. Guardian Preservation Services uses an enzyme compound to quickly and effectively eliminate molds like poria incrassata. This naturally-occurring organic enzyme seeks out molds and breaks down its bonds through digestion. Saving your home from poria requires you to act quickly. Contact Guardian Preservation Services to set up an appointment today.
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