Wet or dry rot identification - DIY or professional?

ChasingtheWelshdream

Good evening,

I have just posted a question on the insurance section, but this is not a duplicate post.

We have today discovered significant timber damage, which we *think* is wet rot. We're 90% sure, but there is 10% of me that is worried we are wrong and it's the dreaded dry rot. There are some small fruiting bodies/fungal blooms that do not resemble any of the pictures of either wet or dry rot that I can find, and it is this that has me concerned. Both are treated differently, so we need to be sure as we will likely be doing it ourselves. We've removed the cause of the water, but it's which course of action we now take.

I've been googling/researching for hours and am still no more definite, so I wonder who would be the most appropriate professional to ask for advice?

Having always lived in old houses, I am wary of free damp inspections and some of the remedial advice given, (chemical DPCs, tanking etc), which are not appropriate to old buildings. But in this case, I want someone to identify the fungus on the timber we have removed so we can take the appropriate course of action.

Has anyone experienced this before? Would a damp specialist simply identify/diagnose the underlying issue without being involved in the treatment?

Are there labs or somewhere that could identify?

Any ideas would be great!

jk0

Fruiting bodies= dry rot

ChasingtheWelshdream

But so does some strains of wet rot, hence our uncertainty. The fungus did not look like any picture of dry rot we've found.

Until today when we've investigated further and found some decidedly dodgy looking stuff.... looks like our worst fears, although *touch wood* does seem to be isolated to the area around the leak - so far...... :-( :-( :-(

Mistral001

The moisture content of the wood should be a guide. If you get high readings (40% or more) then it is likely to be wet rot. You can get fruiting bodies with wet rot as you say, but dry rot fruiting bodies will spread very quickly at about 1m a year or quicker so are likely to be extensive.