InspectionNews - Home Inspection



Welcome to the InspectionNews - Home Inspection forums.

You are currently viewing InspectionNews as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions but not pictures. There are over 6,300 inspectors who have already joined. By joining InspectionNews you will be able to see the pictures, have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple so please, join InspectionNews today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Why join InspectionNews? Read the Testimonials
Reply
 
LinkBack (1) Thread Tools Search this Thread
  1 links from elsewhere to this Post. Click to view. #1 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 03:59 PM
Terence McCann Terence McCann is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Fuzzy wood under front porch
What causes the wood to start deteriorating like this, a fungus?

tia
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Saratoga 007.jpg (52.5 KB, 95 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 04:30 PM
Bruce Breedlove's Avatar
Bruce Breedlove Bruce Breedlove is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 677
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
High moisture levels in the crawlspace would be at the top of my list of suspects. And high moisture could lead to fungus growth (including mold).

Did you notice standing water or wet soil in the crawl? A plumbing leak? Improper grading around the foundation? Clothes dryer or bathroom exhaust fans discharging into the crawl?

Did you check the floor framing with a moisture meter?

Anyway, it appears that house will need quite a bit of floor framing repairs.
__________________
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
Bruce Breedlove
www.avaloninspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 04:35 PM
Rick Cantrell Rick Cantrell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Columbus GA
Posts: 382
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
That looks bad, really bad.
I was under a house almost that bad about a year ago, within an hour I had a screaming headache and had to go home.
__________________
Rick Cantrell
Columbus GA
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 05:00 PM
Terence McCann Terence McCann is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
That looks bad, really bad.
I was under a house almost that bad about a year ago, within an hour I had a screaming headache and had to go home.

Funny you should mention the headache, I've taken 7 aspirin so far and my head is still pounding - the kind that gets you right at the base of the noggin at the back of the neck.

This was under the front porch, no crawl and plenty of ventilation.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Saratoga 003.jpg (92.2 KB, 45 views)
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 05:04 PM
Chip O'Brian Chip O'Brian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Destin, FL
Posts: 52
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
And why do I wear N-95 mask in all attic & crawl spaces?
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 06-05-2007, 05:17 PM
Rick Cantrell Rick Cantrell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Columbus GA
Posts: 382
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
Chip
That's good advice, for all.
__________________
Rick Cantrell
Columbus GA
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 02-28-2008, 01:04 PM
Greg D. Dames's Avatar
Greg D. Dames Greg D. Dames is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Simi Valley, California
Posts: 35
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
Cannot be sure without testing but this could be "Poria Incrassata". The attached photo was taken off the web. NACHI has an article on the one in the photograph. Another name is "House Eating Fungus"

Looking at the photo that you furnished it almost appears that there is a tap root dropping down from the beam in low center of the photo. This is typical as the fungus draws water from the ground.

This stuff is bad news.

Avoiding Litigation: A House-Eating Fungus - InterNACHI
Greg D. Dames
Pacific Mold Assessment
Attached Images
File Type: jpg NACHImold2.jpg (91.8 KB, 36 views)
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 02-28-2008, 02:03 PM
Jon Randolph Jon Randolph is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 342
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip O'Brian View Post
And why do I wear N-95 mask in all attic & crawl spaces?

I actually wear a 1/2 face respirator. You get a much better seal and the dust covers over the cartridges can be replaced. I also wear it in attics in old houses.

About $35 at the orange box.
__________________
Integrity Inspection Service, LLC
www.irsindy.com
(317) 345-1828
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 02-29-2008, 08:29 PM
Richard Rushing's Avatar
Richard Rushing Richard Rushing is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Duncanville, Tx
Posts: 1,086
Re: Fuzzy wood under front porch
It takes a while, but after a few years, the moisture damage from that fungii makes the wood as soft and brittle as balsa-wood.

Yes... that crap will turn your respritory system to mush also.

RR
__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

LinkBacks (?)
LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/exterior-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/1487-fuzzy-wood-under-front-porch.html
Posted By For Type Date
and would like your opinion on the following information. This thread Refback 06-12-2007 09:58 AM

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fuzzy Shingles Nolan Kienitz Roofing System: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 4 06-02-2007 05:25 PM
Wood Structural Panel Sheathing or Siding Used to Resist Combined Shear & Uplift Brian Hannigan Building Envelope: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 0 05-23-2007 01:16 PM
Exposed wood joist in return air John Tullous Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC): Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 15 05-08-2007 07:27 PM
Front Porch Roof Support K Robertson Exterior Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 20 05-03-2007 04:26 PM
Wood Burning Fireplace Dale W. Feb Fireplaces, Chimneys and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 12 04-16-2007 03:08 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:03 PM.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8
vB.Sponsors
All Rights Reserved. Hann Tech Marketing Link / InspectionNews.com / InspectionNews.net - No part of InspectionNews.net may be reproduced in any way, or by any means, without the prior written permission of InspectionNews.net. Use of any index or listing Software for the purpose of constructing a mailing list, creating promotional materials or producing a printed or electronic catalog of any kind is expressly forbidden without the prior written permission of InspectionNews.net - All text, graphics and design on InspectionNews.net is copyright by Hann Tech Marketing Links.
Ad Management by RedTyger