Mold is a huge threat to wood. In fact, more than 5% of all construction lumber manufactured each year in the United States is used to replace wood that has decayed in service by molds. And, more than any other material, if wood is used in home construction it is probably for something important. Here are some categories and words used to describe wood-eating molds that can help you understand what kind of fungus you are dealing with.
Dry rot molds– Do not require water to grow on a surface. They use root-like structures called rhizomorphs to transport water from other sources. These molds, including Pora incrassata and Serpula lacrymans, can be very destructive because they penetrate wooden frames very quickly.
Wet rot molds – Most of the molds that decay wood are wet rot molds because they need moisture to grow. The reason there is a difference is because dry rot molds can be much more dangerous.
Brown rot molds– Leave a brown residue of lignin, the stuff that holds the cells together. They make the wood look like leather and crack the wood in cube shapes. If the wood dries and is crushed, it turns into a powder.
White rot molds– Gives wood a “bleached” look where it appears lighter in color by breaking down both lignins and cellulose, causing the wood to lose its color. White rot causes wood to shrink and feel spongy. It is hard to notice because it does not show cracks, but if you see wood starting to bend then you know you have a problem.
Soft rot molds– Occur when wood is wet for a very long time, usually in cases when wood is in contact with the dirt. Soft rot, such as Chaetomium globosum, looks like brown rot but the affected wood slowly softens from the outside moving in, which creates holes inside the the wood cell walls.
Wood-staining molds– These molds do not affect the strength of wood but make the wood look bad. They go into it and discolor sapwood, and are also called sapstain. Sapstain cannot be removed by brushing or planing.
Superficial molds – Some molds colonize on wood but do not cause any problems and can be easily removed. These molds may look green, black, yellow, or brown fuzz or powder on the surface of wood. They can usually be brushed or washed off the wood, but they might leave stains.
The best way to deal with mold is to prevent it in the first place. But if you do have mold, Guardian Preservation Services can eliminate it effectively, quickly, and safely using its organic enzyme compound. Mold is only a problem if you do not have all the information on how to manage it. Find out how Guardian can solve your mold problem today.
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