wrote:

Strands are for the purpose of conduction of nutrients from the hyphal
front not water to it. The strands are thought to have evolved to
reduce water loss in this process. Water at the hyphal front is
abstracted from the atmosphere not along strands
This was published in 1981 by DH Jennings at the University of
Liverpool using C 14 glucose to follow the nutrients - mostly in
trehalose. The conclusion was that one needed 95% RH for DR to
flourish.

Ah, not heard that before... I appreciated that they strands were taking
nutrients back, but had also read (presumably incorrectly) that they
also carried water to the front (which I presume is also needed for the
digestion of the timber's cellulose by the fungus).

Dry rot can only continue to "eat your house" (after the water source
has been fixed) if the interstices are at an RH of greater than 95%
and that only happens when the masonry is very wet and acts as a
reservoir. it also has to be alkaline as cement mortar does not suppor
the dry rot. This is not common so most dry rot dies when the water
source is fixed. That is most - not all!!!

What would you say to the oft repeated advice that plaster should be
replaced with cement based render? Quite often you see this done on
solid walls with lime mortar. It would seem that this will make the
process of the wall drying even slower?

If, however, you have active dehumidifiction you will cure it and
after a year at normal ~RT it will die

What is the best way to apply the dehumidification - i.e. just running
an ordinary room dehumidifier in the vicinity while keeping the side
exposed, or are there other ways?



--
Cheers,

John.

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