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  1. 4th April 2012, 10:15 PM #1
    hammerhand
    hammerhand is offline New Member
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    Default 'fluffy' material on timber battens

    Hi all,

    Long time watcher, first time poster.

    I was up in my roof space the other day, and I noticed that some damage has been occurring to my roof battens and rafters.
    In certain areas, the timber has started to degrade, and is sort of rotting to a fluffy fibrous sort of material. You can easily rub it off and take it back to good timber, but I'd say that I've lost up to 5 mm of timber in the worst affected areas.
    The problem is pretty isolated and only affects about 2 % of the batten timber, plus a few minor sections of the rafters.

    Not really sure what it is or what it is causing. My first thoughts:

    - Water damage (you can see some broken tiles were the damage is but it was raining (heavily) at the time and the area was dry)
    - White ant damage ? Doesn't really look like this but I'm not sure
    - Rat damage?

    What are your thoughts? See attachments for photos

    Oh - by the way, I am in Perth, and the timber is some sort of hardwood.

    Cheers
    HH
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  3. 6th April 2012, 12:53 AM #2
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    pjt
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    Default

    Looks like it might be a fungus of some sort, a little bit of moisture and right conditions and it will grow, other than that I not sure,

    Termite damage won't be seen unless you disturb the infected timber, hit it with hammer or such or thermal image will but that is for pest inspector, termites will make mud tunnels on the surface to get to the timber they like.

    Rat damage will be evidenced by chewing if they want to make a larger hole to get through to somewhere for eg.


    Pete
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  4. 6th April 2012, 05:15 AM #3
    acmegridley Guest

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    Looks like dry rot to me
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  5. 6th April 2012, 11:24 PM #4
    hammerhand
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    Default

    hey guys. Thanks for the tips. I need to get this sorted out then I spose.

    First things first I need to confirm what it is - who should I call - building inspector? Timber specialist?

    Any idea of the treatment of such fungus?

    HH
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  6. 7th April 2012, 04:44 AM #5
    Robson Valley
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    Standard plant pathology laboratory trick for cleaning seed = chlorine-based houshold bleach wash and 3X rinse with water. My first take on this is fungus ("dry rot" is one of that tribe, too.)
    My personal advice (retired biology prof) is to paint the timbers with chlorine-based bleach.
    My professional advice is to pay a qualified person to take a look and advise you. Far, far, cheaper in the long run.
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