Causal agent
outdoors
Brown rot decay of wooden components of garage
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 21:46 — William KuschWhile inspecting a very old garage that is beginning to lean to one side, a likely brown rot fungal infestation was observed. The garage is constructed of wood over a cement floor, however the wooden walls of the garage are in direct contact with soil. The garage was present when the associated house was purchased in 1979. It is unknown whether the wood used to build the garage has been treated, and if it has, what the chemical or dosage was for the treatment. Also pertinent, the garage is located underneath a pine tree. Pine needles have fallen on the roof and collected in piles on the roof that have been the site of their decay from needles into unidentifiable organic matter. These piles could be a source of moisture or fungal spores. The other potential source of fungal colonization could be the soil. The infestation was observed boards in the wall of the garage near the ground; it was also observed in wood trim along the edge of the roof. The full extent of fungal networks and growth is unknown, however there are several areas of concentrated symptoms, such as brown flaky wood with visible cubicle checking.
Avoidance Strategy:
To avoid this situation in the future, efforts should be made to prevent contact between wooden structural members and soil. If contact is unavoidable, wood should be treated with a chemical concentration suitable to prevent fungal colonization, for example, 0.60 Cu- napthenate or ACQ. In addition, pine needles or other organic matter should not be allowed to accumulate on the roof, or near the walls or other wooden sections of the structure.
Remediation Strategy:
The garage is very old, and brown rot fungal colonization is not the only problem present. The garage has begun to lean, and it is unclear if the brown rot fungus is contributing to that leaning. The garage will likely be torn down and replaced in the near future. Even if brown rot were the only issue with the structure, replacement may be advisable due to the dispersed nature of the infestation, and the difficulty associated with remediating such scenarios.
