I have some sort of bracket/floret mushrooms growing from the mortar on an outside wall. I also have the same mushrooms growing exactly in the corresponding place on the inside of the wall. What I want to know is, what sort of structual damage is this a sign of or causing. (It's adjacent to a flat roof that is awaiting repair but I fear the damage has now gone deeper than just a roof problem.
2007-02-01 07:30:19 · 8 answers · asked by dogfishperson 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You have a serious moisture problem. Mushrooms are fungus, which is in the same kingdom as mold. Although the roots do not go very deep, a lot of damage can or already has been done. Just removing the mushrooms will not cure the problem. You need to get into the wall and see what damage has been done.
I have seen instances where mold has eaten through structural members and caused significant damage. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have.
2007-02-01 08:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by tim r 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the mushrooms are nearly as big of a problem as the moisture. This part of the house is staying wet. what stays what tends to fall apart, wood rots, plaster crumbles, drwall warps and falls off. The bad roof is probably the source but you can't know how bad the damage is until you take off a section of plaster or drywall to look, which it sounds like you need to replace anyway.
If this has been like this a short time you are probably okay structurally, but if that roof has been leaking for a year or more you might have big problems.
2007-02-01 21:12:53 · answer #2 · answered by speedgeek 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that mushrooms develop long roots - most of them are pretty shallow. So just scrub them off and spray the cracks and crevices with a dilution of water and bleach (maybe 1-2 to 1 cup per gallon of water.) That should be good enough to kill any spores that remain. Keep an eye on the area and respray as needed.
You might have some kind of dirt or decaying organic matter which the mushrooms are feeding on. Try to remove all traces of dirt.
2007-02-01 15:50:47 · answer #3 · answered by Tom-SJ 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
So..
Mushroom growing is very easy if you know exactly what you're doing, and it's not difficult to learn the different steps involved in the process. You should by a good book with a step by step approach. This is one I recommend http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=573
Bye Bye
2014-09-14 16:37:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds a little like dry rot to me. Do the "mushrooms" look anything like the ones in these pics of dry rot? http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=dry+rot&btnG=Search+Images
If they are then you need to get it sorted quickly as dry rot can kill buildings and the longer your leave it the more expensive it will become.
Bleach will not kill dry rot - though petrol (be very, very careful) can. The best is to a) Get in a professional firm. b) Purchase some dry rot killing fluid from the DIY store.
This page http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/dry_rot.htm gives some DIY help on the problem. Act quickly!!!
2007-02-01 16:11:20 · answer #5 · answered by stgoodric 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this is a fungi caused by damp you need to remove them ..and treat the area with something like dettol. this will kill the spores .. when the roof is done check there is none inside the roof void .if yes ..clean thoroughly ..and more dettol ..if any joist rotted ..replace
2007-02-03 03:47:19 · answer #6 · answered by boy boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just kill it of scrub it with bleach and see if it drys out if not get a damp survey in.
2007-02-01 15:37:46 · answer #7 · answered by will 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
muriatic acid and a wire-brush Depending upon the wall of course. and dont forget your rubber gloves and glasses.
2007-02-01 15:49:47 · answer #8 · answered by FATE 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋