IS YOUR HOME’S STRUCTURE
SAFE OR IS DECAY HIDDEN BEHIND YOUR WALLS?
Poria incrassata is a
wood-decaying fungus belonging to a group of fungi referred to as the “brown
rot family,” which differs from the other members of this family by its unique
characteristic that it provides its own moisture to the wood to be
colonized through water-conducting strands called rhizomorphs. Because
the rarity of its presence and the lack of knowledge by the consumer and
service providers, it is often mistaken for mold. The damage
is most-often mistaken as that caused by other members of the family as the
damage is identical and is commonly referred to as “dry-rot.”
Extensive damage to the
floor structure and wall framing could exist before the first signs of the
infection become evident to the occupants by the emergence of “fruiting bodies”
or by hardwood floors cupping, buckling or breaking, as well as baseboards and
door jambs shrinking and disintegrating. It is not rare to find the
presence of Poria as a result of the sudden collapse of sections of the floor,
which on some occasions have resulted in injuries to the occupants.
This destructive feature
is as a result of its ability to obtain moisture from the soil and transport it
to the wood by the rhizomorphs that will gain access through separations between
building components, cracks in the foundation or in many occasions due to
direct contact between the soil and the wood members( like on the porches where
the earth fill may be higher than the wood.)
Keeping the wood wet is
essential for the Poria to continue its growth and often results in the
improper assumption that the cause of the “dry-rot” is as a result of water
intrusion caused by leaks (roof, plumbing, sprinklers, grading, insufficient
ventilation, etc.) leading to unnecessary expenses. This also often results in
improper repairs that will allow the infection to re-start as soon as the
replacement of the affected building materials are completed.
Vigorous Poria Growth Can Result In Water
Damage
The visible damage
observed due to Poria often confuses the homeowner and the service providers,
leading them to believe that external sources are the culprit, due to the
degree of saturation on the wood, insulation in the walls or the floor, water
running out of the joints of the siding or small puddles at the base of the
wall, or floors buckling or cupping.
It is a common mistake
to think that the irrigation of the landscaped areas have to do with the source
of the Poria infection, as it will travel far and deep to find moisture. Given
this fact, it impossible to determine the original source of the infection.
Once Poria is
established, it continues to be active in the soil year-round and produces
reproductive fruiting bodies twice a year (mainly around the months of
May and November). During this stage, the
consumption of wood is increased and millions of spores are produced and
expelled with tremendous pressure, making them airborne, resulting in a reddish
brown film covering the flat surfaces around the infected area.
A Poria infection begins
from a microscopic spore and the development of microscopic filaments that
eventually will gather together to form a visible strand (rhizomorph) that may
grow to inches in a round form (similar to a root) or flat when compressed between
building components. These stands can reach a size from ½-inch thick to several
inches wide.
The identification of
Meruliporia (Poria) incrassata should be based on the observation of the
characteristics of the infection at the site like the presence of fruiting
bodies, the presence of spores, the mycelium growth, the spread of the
infection, the presence of fungus moths and more than anything else, the
presence of rhizomorphs.
A Poria infection by its
own nature creates a favorable environment for the growth of other types of
fungus (mold) and other opportunistic bacteria, as the supply of moisture is
constant until the rhizomorphs are detached from the wood.
Laboratory testing based
on air samples may show the presence of Basidiospores that indicate the
presence of wood decay without identifying the genus. Bulk samples will be
contaminated with ever-present floating spores of everything, so the growth in
a petri dish may show everything except Poria, given that Poria will die once
disconnected from its water source.
If you choose to have a
lab test for Poria, you’d better have deep pockets. Lab testing fees can range
between $900.00 - $1,500.00, and will likely not be able to confirm anything
other than a mold from the “brown rot family.” Lab technicians or hygienists
are not trained to identify where the Poria are gaining access to the
structure. A better investment would be to hire an expert who is
knowledgeable about the characteristics of the Poria infection to inspect,
determine the conditions that are providing access and contributing to the
Poria infection as well as the type of repairs necessary to eliminate those
conditions. In most cases, these inspections are less expensive than the
lab testing fees, which ultimately, do not remediate the source of the problem.
Homeowners beware: Poria incrassata can cost you tens of thousands
of dollars in repairs if it is not recognized timely or if the
repairs made are inadequate. Given that Poria is a
wood decaying fungus and it is grouped with the non-wood decaying fungus or
MOLD, many insurance policies exclude or limit coverage for
removal of building materials damaged by Poria and any repairs needed to
replace the affected materials. If Poria is not identified correctly in
the initial investigation stage of the claim, your insurance company may
exclude coverage entirely. This isn’t unlikely as the damage by
Poria is commonly referred to as “dry rot”, which is a misnomer for wood decay and
is generally not covered by insurance due to it being
considered a long-term issue.
The Solution: A
proper inspection by a professional with knowledge about Poria incrassata will
determine the type of repairs that will be necessary to eliminate the current
activity and to eliminate the threat of future attacks. Demolition of
certain finished surfaces may be necessary to implement resolving the
problem. Concrete barriers could in some cases aggravate the situation if
the access route is not located and sealed properly. The repairs will
vary depending on the details of the construction of the home’s structure as
homes with a crawl space differ from those with concrete slab foundations and
they require different approaches to solve the problem.
The repairs must fallow
a sequence where the points of access are found and eliminated, wood is
replaced, and may require that additional barriers be applied. In addition, the
interior and exterior materials must be completed providing separations or air
gaps between the soil and hard surfaces, such as at the base of stucco or
siding. Decorative veneers on the exterior of walls may have to be
eliminated unless special provisions are incorporated in the repairs.
Once the rhizomorphs are
removed from the wood, eliminating the source of moisture, any activity above
that level will cease as the infection will die and it will not regenerate new
growth even if the area gets wet by external sources. Wood with growth on
the surface can be left in place if not structurally weakened with the growth
left in place or scraped off depending on your preference.
Poria is a soil
inhabitant organism and it will continue to be active as there are no chemicals
that will control its growth. Performing the proper examinations and
applying the proper seals to isolate the wood frame from access by the
rhizomorphs is the only solution to prevent its attack. The source of
moisture being the soil will always be present regardless of the depth at which
Poria will have to travel to obtain it. If you have water damaged floors,
it might save money in the long-run to investigate the possibility that the
damage could be as a result of Poria activity.
Make sure to get a
qualified professional on the job from the time you first notice damage and
before you start a remodel project on your home. Call Specialized Outsource
Solutions for referrals of reputable contractors and experts who follow the
proper guidelines for design and re-construction of your home, including
plumbing, water restoration, mold remediation, testing for mold, inspections
for Poria incrassata and building repairs. SOS’ can refer
specialists, experts and contractors that are just a phone call away to help
you protect your investment - 1-888-589-1868 or request
referrals for reputable experts and contractors from our website.
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