Here\u2019s a nightmare scenario for any homeowner: You notice a strange, orange-colored growth somewhere in the house that keeps coming back no matter how well you clean it. You open up the wall, and discover an extensive fungal infestation that is turning the solid wood of your home into a spongy disaster. It spreads incredibly fast, and unlike most molds or other fungi, it doesn\u2019t seem to depend on an immediate source of moisture.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve just encountered meruliporia incrassata<\/em>, often called simply “Poria”\u2014and it\u2019s a huge problem. An orange-tinged fungus that develops mushroom-like bodies, Poria has been described as \u201cthe most devastating wood-decay fungus of houses<\/a> that we know of\u201d and \u201cthe most destructive fungus<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Poria is especially destructive because of something called rhizomorphs<\/em>. \u201cPoria is unique in that it has what can be thought of as \u2018long arms or tentacles,\u2019 also known as rhizomorphs,\u201d explains Liz Keefer, CIEC, a certified mold inspector, indoor environmental consultant, and CEO of The Mold Girl<\/a>, a mold testing and inspection company based in Charleston, South Carolina. \u201cThese \u2018arms\u2019 will extend up to 10 meters in length and can travel across surfaces to find the nutrients and moisture needed to keep growing, which allows them to extend far beyond the initial infestation site. Imagine being at a restaurant surrounded by starving people with 30-foot-plus arms\u2014and no manners to stop them from stealing.\u201d<\/p>\n Unchecked, Poria can potentially do enough damage to render a house uninhabitable\u2014and it can do that damage fast<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>advancing its rhizomorphs up to 10 inches a day<\/a>. The good news? It can still take Poria years to do significant damage to your home (although it may go undetected for much of that time), and it\u2019s possible to effectively get rid of it if it\u2019s identified and treated quickly. Here\u2019s what you need to know about this \u201chouse-eating\u201d fungus.<\/p>\n Your chances of seeing Poria in your house vary greatly depending on where you live. \u201cPoria can be found truly all over the United States,\u201d notes Keefer, \u201cbut it is most commonly found in coastal areas, with the Southeast having the highest amount of known cases.\u201d<\/p>\n A kind of \u201cbrown rot\u201d fungus, Poria eats the cellulose in wood but leaves behind the brown lignin, leaving it dark and crumbly. The main way to know you\u2019re dealing with Poria will be those rhizomorphs or \u2018arms\u2019\u2014they resemble roots, and can be white or shades of brown in color. The rhizomorphs may \u201cbleed\u201d if broken. One challenge to identifying Poria is the fact that these \u2018arms\u2019 are typically hidden behind walls and can worm their way through tiny spaces, allowing the fungus to spread to areas of the house you might assume were safe.<\/p>\n Of course, once you realize you have some<\/em> kind of mold eating your house, you don\u2019t need to wait to figure out if it\u2019s Poria or not. \u201cAll molds above normal fungal ecology levels should be considered harmful,\u201d advises Keefer. But because of the speed of destruction that Poria is capable of, you should move a lot faster than you might with a less-invasive and less-aggressive mold or fungus.<\/p>\n Step one is to contact a professional mold testing<\/em> company. While you might have the urge to just call a remediation company, Keefer stresses that could be a mistake. \u201cRemediation is the term used for companies that remove mold,\u201d she notes. \u201cBut an inspection is essential to a successful remediation, because they will find the source of the moisture which truly is the root cause.\u201d<\/p>\n As Jehremy Foster, chief estimator for Precision Environmental<\/a> noted to the Washington Post<\/a>, you should be prepared for \u201ca lot of demolition.\u201d Because Poria can travel\u2014and travel so quickly\u2014to wood that isn\u2019t exposed to any moisture source, treating it requires cutting away any wood that has even potentially been exposed\u2014and rooting out the entry point of the fungus, where there is often a taproot or \u201croot ball\u201d that has to be removed.<\/p>\n The best way to deal with Poria is to never actually have to deal with it, of course. \u201cThe best way to protect your home from Poria is to be proactive in preventing excess moisture,\u201d Keefer advises. \u201cFrom proper building practices such as slanting rainwater away from the foundation of your home to monitoring relative humidity inside the home, reducing unwanted moisture is key.\u201d<\/p>\n The other key to preventing any sort of damaging mold or fungus in your home is to be vigilant: Poria moves fast, so don\u2019t ignore any common signs of fungal infestations, like:<\/p>\n Discoloration or stains on walls<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Musty odors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Warping wood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bubbling paint<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Soft wood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In other words, being aware of the condition of your house is crucial. If you think you\u2019ve got Poria in your house, don\u2019t panic\u2014but also, don\u2019t dawdle.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a nightmare scenario for any homeowner: You notice a strange, orange-colored growth somewhere in the house that keeps coming back no matter how well you clean it. You open up the wall, and discover an extensive fungal infestation that … Continue reading Fungus with arms<\/h2>\n
How to identify Poria<\/h2>\n
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Prevention<\/h2>\n
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\nSource: LifeHacker – Everything You Need to Know About Poria, the ‘House-Eating’ Fungus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"