Wood Problems, Wood rot, Dry rot, Woodworm

Do you have problems or concerns about the structural timbers of your property?

Richardson & Starling conduct complete property surveys to inspect for woodworm, wood rot, dry rot, to include all manner of wood problems leading to structural timber decay . Our qualified surveyors will provide comprehensive reports, identifying causes of attack and recommending environmentally appropriate repairs.

The following tables will help you identify causes of timber problems.

Insect Attacks - click here to see diagram in detail of life cycle >>

Insect

Flight Holes

Bore Dust

Comments

Common Furniture Beetle

woodworm

Anobium punctatum

Circular. 1-2mm Diameter

Gritty (fine sand) Lemon shaped pellets

Sapwood only affected, hardwood may be affected in damp conditions.

Death Watch Beetle

Xestobium rufovillosum

Circular. 3mm Diameter

Cream coloured, Disc shaped pellets

Normally in oak, associated with damp timber and fungal decay

House Longhorn Beetle

Hylotrupes bajulus

Oval Holes. 6-9mm

Cream coloured, Sausage shaped pellets

Affects softwoods. Generally restricted to Surrey ('Camberly' Beetle)

Wood-boring Weevils

Ragged. About 1.5mm

Fine and Gritty

Decayed Softwoods & Hardwoods in damp conditions

Fungal Attacks - click here to see diagram in detail >>

FUNGAL

FRUIT BODIES

MYCELIUM

WOOD

Serpula lacrymans

DRY ROT

Fleshy soft plate. Spore bearing surface yellow to red with wide pores

Soft, white/grey sheets or cushions showing patches of yellow and tinges of lilac. Strands sometimes as thick as a pencil. Becomes brittle when dried

Causes darkening of the wood. Large cubodial cracking. Cubes same size or larger than those of Antrodia vaillanti

Coniophora puteana

WET ROT

"cellar fungus"

Thin plate. Greenish olive brown. Spores on many minute pimples

Slender, thread-like, first yellowish, soon becoming deep brown or nearly black

Causes darkening of the wood. Small cubodial cracking usually hidden below a sound veneer which appears to be stained with water. Attacks wood in a very damp situation in cellars, skirting boards etc

Antrodia vaillanti

WET ROT

"Poria"

Soft, white plate, hard when dry. Spore bearing surface showing numerous minute pores

Very white fern-like growth on edges of sheet never showing colouration. Strands remaining flexible when dried

Causes darkening of the wood. Large cubodial cracking. Often found under floor covering

Donkioporia expansa

WET ROT

Thick hard plate or bracket. Dull fawn or biscuit colour. Long pores, often in several layers

White to biscuit in colour found within the timber

Attacks hardwood, mainly Oak. Will decay softwood if adjacent. Wood reduced to consistency of whitish lint. No cubodial cracking

Wood Problems