7
$\begingroup$

I found this in my lounge today. This room was cleaned less than 48hours ago, with no sign of this growth.

We sweeped and mopped, using the same floor cleaner we always do.

The two images below is of the same corner, but with the growth lifted in one image.

The consistency is like a fungus or mushroom and can probably be removed from the wall as one piece without much effort.

One of the walls close by do suffer from damp on occasion, but we have been in this house for over two years and have not had anything like this appear.

Please help!

enter image description hereenter image description here

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ How weird. Could it be leaking insulation foam or sealant or something? What makes you think it's fungal? $\endgroup$
    – arboviral
    Commented Apr 24, 2018 at 15:37
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ The way it's spreading looks like dry rot (Serpula lacrymans, Meruliporia incrassata or Fibroporia vaillantii), but the color doesn't look quite right. Did it stay that color or go darker at the center? $\endgroup$
    – Lizzie Silver
    Commented Apr 30, 2018 at 11:30
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ It is/was dry rot. The pictures were taken when these "flowers" just appeared, so it hasn't yet opened to show the orange/brown spores. $\endgroup$
    – Johan
    Commented May 10, 2018 at 16:23
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Builders have been in and ripped it all out, including our 100-year-old floorboards and fireplace :( It is what it is... Thanks for the assistance though! $\endgroup$
    – Johan
    Commented May 10, 2018 at 16:25
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Lizzie or Johan: please write up an answer so that this question can be marked as such. Thanks! $\endgroup$
    – theforestecologist ♦
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 3:18

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

This is dry rot. It could be one of several species, including Serpula lacrymans, Meruliporia incrassata and Fibroporia vaillantii. It is a fungus that feeds on and decomposes wood. Despite the name, some moisture is required for growth, so it makes sense that your wall suffered from damp. The fruiting body will darken at the center as the spores appear.

Example images of dry rot fruiting bodies:

dry rot image by Seabrooke Leckie

Photo by Seabrooke Leckie

dry rot image by Dave Brown

Photo by Dave Brown

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .