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Many homeowners are familiar with wood damage caused by rot. They see it in structural lumber, log homes, eaves, garage doors, exterior door trim, window casings and other wood used in construction. Current estimates show that replacement materials, needed to repair damage caused by rot alone, account for nearly 10 percent of U.S. annual wood production. Blame for this destruction is sometimes incorrectly placed on termites or other wood-destroying insects. However, there are no mud tunnels or mines in the wood such as seen with termite and other wood-destroying insects, nor is there any sawdust, which would be evident in the case of carpenter ant damage. The key to preventing rot is to control the wood's exposure to moisture and to employ an effective prevention and treatment program. Most wood decay fungi grow only on wood with a high moisture content, usually 20 percent or above. Green (unseasoned) lumber is a prime target for decay fungi. Identification There are two main classes of wood rot. In one type, the decayed area has a brown discoloration and a crumbly appearance. It usually breaks up into variously-sized cubes, giving rise to the name "brown cubical rot." Another type of rot results in a white or yellow discoloration, with the decayed wood being "stringy" or "spongy." Although many decay fungi may grow for long periods without producing any external evidence of their presence, others produce "fruiting bodies" on the surface of decaying wood. Fruiting bodies are usually "crusts" or shelflike "brackets" which are a few inches or so in diameter. The fruiting body of Serpula lacrimans, e.g., is a rust-brown, crust-like structure on the wood surface. It has a waxy appearance, with shallow, net-like folds or "wrinkles." The fruiting body of Poria incrassata is also crust-like. It is white to light buff when initially formed, but becomes brown as it ages and dries out. Small pores can be seen in the crust when it is examined with a hand lens. Gleophyllum trabeum forms bracket-like fruiting bodies. The upper surface of the fruiting body is dull gray-brown and smooth. The lower surface has elongate openings (pores) or split-like openings (gills). These fruiting bodies produce millions of tiny spores which may, in some cases, serve to spread the decay fungus to other areas. Also, surface molds, "mildews," and stain fungi are often found growing on the surface of damp wood and can be confused with decay fungi. Although these organisms may discolor the wood, they do not break down wood fibers and thus do not weaken its structure. However, these organisms indicate that moisture is present and that decay will likely proceed if a wood-rotting fungus becomes established in the wood. Life Cycle & Habits Decay fungi are living organisms which send minute threads called "hyphae" through damp wood, taking their food from the wood as they grow. Gradually, the wood is decomposed and its strength is lost. Such damage is often inconspicuous until its final stages, and in a few instances homeowners have suddenly found floors breaking through or doors falling from their hinges due to wood rot. When previously dry wood is placed in contact with moist soil, or in a location where it is subject to condensation (such as unventilated crawl space), it is likely that wood decay problems will occur. Rain leaks, faulty plumbing and leaky downspouts also are common sources of moisture. In some instances, water can be transported to the site of decay through strands or "rhizomorphs" of the decay fungi. Water-transporting strands may extend for thirty or more feet across brick, concrete or similar materials. The wood decay fungus, Serpula lacrimans, has been known to transport water up three stories to an area where decay is occurring. Poria incrassata is also capable of transporting water long distances. However, these fungi are exceptions to the rule. Most wood-rotting fungi must have a direct supply of water at the site of decay. Thus the term "dry-rot," sometimes applied to decay in wood structures, is erroneous. Control Measures Prevention 1. If the decay hazard is high, select the heartwood of decay-resistant species or use wood properly treated with a good preservative. Conifers from which decay-resistant lumber is produced include Pacific yew, juniper, redwood, baldcypress, and western red cedar. Durable hardwood species include osage orange, black locust, red mulberry, catalpa and black walnut. 2. Build on a well-drained site. Use proper grading to prevent water from seeping under the house. Install effective drain tile, roof overhang, gutters, and downspouts. Place no untreated wood within 18 inches of the ground. 3. Provide adequate cross ventilation beneath buildings to eliminate dead air pockets. Install two square feet of opening for 25 linear feet of wall. Dense bushes or other plants should not be placed in front of these ventilators. 4. Install a vapor barrier on the soil surface to cause soil moisture to condense on the barrier and return to the soil rather than condensing on the floor and above joists. Satisfactory barriers can be made by covering the soil with asphalt roofing paper or polyethylene sheets. Repair of Decayed Buildings First determine the source of moisture and remove it. If adequate ventilation and soil drainage are provided and all contacts of untreated wood with the soil or moist concrete or masonry are broken, decayed wood will dry out and further decay will be stopped. When making replacements, cut out at least one foot beyond the rotten area. Avoid placing new lumber in contact with old, decayed wood. Replacement lumber should be treated before installation. Remodel to provide more ventilation and better design rather than simply replacing decayed lumber. Chemical Treatment Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate or sodium borate with brand names of Bora-Care®, Guardian®, Jecta®, Shell-Guard®, Tim-bor® and Impel® rods are labelled for protection and treatment of wood and wood-foam composite structural components against decay fungi and wood destroying insects. For example, remedial control of organisms attacking wood, apply a 15 percent or two applications of 10 percent aqueous solution of Tim-bor® 98 percent (1-lb/gallon solution) or Bora-Care® diluted 1:1 or 2:1 with water. The solution may be applied by brush or spray until the surface is thoroughly wetted (approximately five gallons per 1,000 square foot). An application may also be made by drilling, and then injecting the solution directly into the infested area. Inject a sufficient amount of solution to cause runoff from exit holes drilled into the infested wood. Also one may apply Tim-bor® dust to infested wood by drill and injection directly into galleries (a passage or tunnel made in wood by an insect); or dust wood surfaces and wall voids at a rate of two to three pounds per 100 square foot. Tim-bor® is applied by licensed pesticide applicators or pest control operators. For product information, contact U.S. Borax Corporation, 1(800)9-TIM-BOR. Shell-Guard® and Guardian® are labeled for protection and treatment against decay fungi and wood destroying insects. These two products are formulated with propylene and polyethylene glycols, making them doubly safe to use. Since these products are borate based, the protection is permanent after application. Guardian® is the highest concentration available in a formulated borate product. It can be directly injected into holes to provide fast penetration into problem areas. Rapid diffusion is assured by the formulated carriers. Holes can be sealed to match the original finish of the wood. Shellguard® is a liquid, labeled for topical application. Because of its concentration, multiple applications are unnecessary. Like Guardian®, one application is all that is required. Both of these products are labeled for home use, and can be easily and safely applied by the homeowner. (For further information on either Shellguard® or Guardian®, contact Perma-Chink Systems at 1-(800)-548-1231 or 1-(800)-548-3554. Another formulation known as Impel rods is molded from highly concentrated water-diffusible boron into a solid tube resembling glass in appearance. These rods are internationally recognized as an effective preservative and deterrent to rot. Unlike fumigants and sprayed or brushed on preservatives, Impel Rods are inserted through small holes strategically drilled into wood where signs of rot are evident or in high-risk, rot-prone areas. The holes are sealed and may be finished to match the wood's original appearance. Rods are odorless, EPA registered, do not stain wood and are available in various sizes to fit virtually any application from heavy timbers and posts to millwork and door frames. However, where damage threatens the structure integrity of wood, the wood should be replaced. Whenever the moisture content of wood is high enough to sustain rot, Impel Rods® slowly dissolve, spreading the active borate protection into the area surrounding the rod. When the wood dries, the preservative remains in the wood. As the cycle is repeated, the preservative builds up as an effective deterrent to rot. (For further information, contact Nisus Corporation, 215 Dunavant Drive, Rockford, TN 37853 Telephone: 1-(800)-264-0870, Fax: (423)-577-5825). In the past, pentachlorophenol (Penta®) and copper naphthenate was used as a stop gap measure. (These chemicals had offensive smells and were not environmentally safe.) Now with a growing environmental concern, various formulations of sodium borate do not pose a serious threat. A key valve is the absence of offensive smells sometimes associated with other common treatment methods. Also, existing moisture in the wood enhances chemical penetration. This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registration, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author, The Ohio State University and Ohio State University Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations. TIJ gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the Ohio State University Extension Service for allowing the use of this document. For a printer-friendly version of this document, click the icon marked "Printer Friendly" in the blue bar above this topic and then print the article. To visit TIJ's other forums click here.

Working with Lloyds of London, OREP is providing competitive rates for E&O insurance coverage for home inspectors in 48 states. Minimum premiums begin under $2,000 ($100,000 limit). The premium for $1 million in E&O is $3,200. State taxes and fees apply ($250-$350 additional). Policies cover all inspectors in a firm for one low premium* and include coverage for radon and pest/WDO at no additional charge. Prior acts coverage is included for qualified applicants. There are no additional “per inspectorâ€

This useful article in JLC Update, the monthly newsletter from the Journal of Light Construction provides a better understanding of the code issues involved with locating plumbing vents for island sinks.

Bipartisan legislation introduced on Feb. 16 by Reps. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) and Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) would restore the protections offered under the Fifth Amendment to property owners. To learn more click here.

According to an article posted to the home page of the Insurance Journal website, FEMA-certified inspectors began flood damage assessments in California on March 1st. To learn more click here.

Chicago -- USG Corporation has launched a new site aimed at providing the latest information about dealing with mold. www.getmoldfacts.com is a treasure trove of information for inspectors and clients seeking to learn more about this very sensitive topic. USG Corporation has also provided a grant to form a new organization called the Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition (RSMC) to support its mold education initiative. For more information about the RSMC, click here.

According to a February 28th article on YourMortgage.com.au, a web based mortgage sales site, Australia's problems are similar to the U.S. and Canada, in that there are unlicensed inspectors with little training or experienced doing poor inspections there. To learn more, click here.

This article describes how home inspectors trained to do home energy audits are using new hi-tech devices to speed up the process and improve their bottom line.

This February 14th article in the Courier Postal Online explains changes to New Jersey's licensing law that have reduced what was once considered to be one of the best licensing laws in the country to a shadow of its former self.

The official implementation of Home Information Packs (HIPS) and mandatory inspections paid for by sellers is more than a year away in the U.K. but the rhetoric coming from those marshaled against the new home inspection profession is reaching a fever pitch. If the naysayers, including many members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), real estate agents, mortgage lenders and appraisers, are to be believed, most of those home inspectors, who are presently enrolled in a 2-year full-time curriculum to earn their home inspection credential, will be completely inept and/or dishonest; the home inspection process will be a huge waste of everyone's time and money; and inspectors will be nothing more than "Cowboys" - a term in the U.K. that is apparently a derogative meaning an inept inspector who makes unjustified calls on homes in order to justify his/her existence. Below are links to some of the good, the bad and the ugly that is fueling the debate across the big pond. Enjoy. Pensioners rush for new £40,000 career by Rosie Murray-West According to an article from The News.Telegraph.com, pensioners and people close to retirement are queuing up to train for a new career that could earn them £40,000 a year or more as home inspectors. HIPS Will Hit Market, says CML According to an article on FindaProperty.Com, a British real estate listing and real estate search engine site, commercial mortgage lenders (CML) in the U.K. feel that the introduction of mandatory inspections will set the market on it's ear. Due to a massive response to their article, FindaProperty.Com did a follow-up piece entitled HIPS, Cure or Curse. A More Sensible View of HIPs in the U.K. Should sellers beware house sale reform? A piece by Jill Insley in the Sunday, February 19th issue of the The Observer by Jill Insley reported about the fears over the government's introduction of HIPs and questioned whether sellers in the U.K. needed to be wary of house sales reform.

InspectorsReference.com, a new national directory of home inspectors debuted in January. According to Mike Bryan President of MGB Publications, Inc. and owner of the site, the site offers a speedy "no frills" directory displaying the most important information regarding home inspectors in a format that makes comparison shopping a breeze." Said Bryan, "The emphasis is on certifications, association memberships, and related experience, which is all displayed in unbiased and unprioritized tables according to state and geographic region. There is no way, due to the flat fee, for anyone to buy their way to the top of a listand that's the way it should be. The public comes to directories believing that they are getting straight information and that's exactly what they get here." The site has something for everyone. There are pages for home buyers; a links library; trade experts available for advice through e-mail; a serendipidy page and more, all offering the public an insider's view of the home inspector's world. MGB Publications, was represented at the recent ASHI, NAHI and NACHI conferences and also sells home inspection report forms and industry related books and services, which are all available on the web at www.mgbpublications.com. Home inspectors wishing to subscribe to the InspectorsReference.com list can submit their registration online at http://www.inspectorsreference.com.

In this article in the Miami Herald municipalities are considering mandatory pre-sale inspections by trained inspectors (some private) to identify code violations.

According to this article in the February 2nd issue of USA Today, as housing sales slow down, more and more sellers are considering pre-listing inspections in order to get an edge.

In a February 3rd opinion piece, the Editor of the Jacksonville Business Journal depored the fact that too many mold inspection and remediation companies are operating without oversight, increasing the potential for abuse, and making it harder for consumers to distinguish good mold testing/remediation companies from the bad ones. Reporter Tony Quesada investigated the mold profession and wrote a series of articles about the mold industry. (Oped Piece;Article 1;Article 2;Article 3)

According to a 1993 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on structural damage during Hurricane Andrew, modular homes generally fared better during the storm than site-built homes. Read More...

This article on the Westchester.com site explains the tough new rules in New York State that prohibit real estate agents from referring customers to unlicensed home inspectors. Read More...

February 2006 (Palm Springs, Calif) — The year 2006 marks the 30th anniversary of the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA). Started in 1976 by a handful of home inspectors in the Los Angeles area coming together to help educate themselves and to reach out to the home buying public, CREIA has seen its humble beginnings grow into a professional association with over 1,200 members throughout the state and the west coast. CREIA members perform over 350,000 inspections annually for Californians. From the beginning, CREIA committed itself to representing the profession; promoting real estate inspection as a unique, professional discipline; providing leadership through education and by maintaining ethical and technical standards; and enhancing consumer protection and promote public awareness. The message and mission of CREIA continues today. With education and consumer awareness a priority, CREIA offers over 400 educational programs each year via 25 chapters throughout the state. In addition to an annual conference and a specialty symposium, CREIA also publishes a highly informative magazine and hosts an award-winning informative website at www.CREIA.org.

JLC never fails to deliver. This second article in this month's JLC Update is a primer on how to best attach deck ledgers to engineered rim joists. Read More...

This article by Kevin Lister in the March issue of ContractorPower.com Newsletter is about the art and science of relationship building and provides an overview of the various types of networking relationships and the good, the bad and the ugly about them. Read More...

If Nebraska Senator Chris Langemeier gets his way, every home inspection company in Nebraska will eventually be registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State and will have to carry $250,000 in liability insurance and a surety bond in the amount of $50,000. If Nebraska Senator Chris Langemeier gets his way, every home inspection company in Nebraska will eventually be registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State and will have to carry $250,000 in liability insurance and a surety bond in the amount of $50,000. Langemeier's initiative may be a stop-gap solution for a stalled bill - LB 660 - introduced in January 2005 by Sen Marian Price. That bill would have required licensing of all home inspectors and would have established a Home Inspector Licensing Board comprised of a small group of home inspector who'd be responsible for developing a standard of practice and minimum education and experience prerequisites to be licensed. That bill has been carried over to the next legislative session. According to a January 31st Around the Rotunda column in Lincoln’s Journal Star, Langemeier, who just happens to also be a real estate broker, was quoted as saying, “ It’s pretty common that after high winds or a tornado, a guy with a pickup and a ladder becomes a roofer. “There is some of that going on in the home inspection business.â€

The Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction (FEMA 499) is just one in a series of documents produced by the government to help people prepare for disasters in disaster-prone areas. There are actually 31 fact sheets in this series and they are meant to provide builders technical guidance for residential construction in coastal areas. Many of the fact sheets also include lists of FEMA and other resources that provide more information about the topics discussed and some articles have active web links. The fact sheets are available in either pdf or plain text format. To download the documents click here.

Stop the sink drain up, put a half gallon of bleach in the sink and then fill it up and let it run into the overflow to kill whatever is growing in there. Let it sit for an hour or so and flush it out. OT - OF!!! M.

Hi, I don't know about NYS but if you're going strictly by the NEC splices are allowed in the panel. OT - OF!!! M.

Alllllrighty then! Take a look at page 41 at this link for clapboard and shingle siding (Notice the splining behind the drip cap and head flashings? (Hmmmmmm?) http://www.awc.org/pdf/WCD1-300.pdf Then look at the details for plywood siding at this link: http://www.apawood.org/pdfs/download_pd ... d/A530.pdf (If you haven't already, you need to register here.) ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, Yeah, it does (IRC 3304.11/NEC 110.22) but the reason nobody has mentioned it is that the deadfront cover might have the labels at the corresponding positions of these breakers or there could be a legend pasted to the door of the panel showing location/purpose of breakers. OT - OF!!! M.