Identifying a strange fungus growth on new plasterboard wall

emmettu2

My father is seeking advice about this fungus-type growth that appeared on a new plasterboard wall in a recently renovated house. He has repeatedly removed it and it always comes back (15 times!).


Does anyone know what it is? What causes it? How to eliminate it?


3 images attached. Thanks!!

listermint

Yes he has a lead or heavy water ingress. The skirting has to come off to get a proper look.

What's the other side of that wall ? Bathroom?

What's under the floor there. Any piping for heating or supply to taps etc.

10-10-20

That is the most fascinating fungus that I have seen in a while.
There is what appears to be a tell-tale on the far left of the third image where the skirting meets the flooring. Show us more of that area.
But yes, the skirting will have to come away to find out where the moisture is coming from.

emmettu2

Thank you.

There is a bathroom (toiled, en-suite) upstairs but nothing beyond the wall (exterior wall).

No piping beneath the floor.

I attach some additional photos where you can see the new plasterboard being added to the old wall (it's an old house). You can also see the new floor foundation added before being covered with wood floor.

Do you know what that fungus is called?

Deeec

emmettu2 wrote: »

Thank you.

There is a bathroom (toiled, en-suite) upstairs but nothing beyond the wall (exterior wall).

No piping beneath the floor.

I attach some additional photos where you can see the new plasterboard being added to the old wall (it's an old house). You can also see the new floor foundation added before being covered with wood floor.

Do you know what that fungus is called?

Is the fungus growing where the old door used to be?
It doesnt look like the old door was sealed up properly.

10-10-20

It may be called Serpula lacrymans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpula_lacrymans

The images from this page would support that (section: dry-rot).
https://www.permagard.co.uk/advice/treating-dry-rot-wet-rot

Pandiculation

That looks like dry rot. It’s a wood decay fungus, the issue to remember is the mushroom you're seeing is just the reproductive flowering part of a very much larger problem. The organism itself hyphae (threads) that will likely be present in the wooden structure behind.

You would need to treat that quickly and get access to the wood behind that area and isn’t very visible.

If it’s left for too long it can spread and do a lot of damage to the wooden aspects of the structure.

listermint

I'm concerned about that door and how it was sealed. Is there a cavity

emmettu2

Thanks everyone for the advice. I attach a couple more photos.

Deeec

emmettu2 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice. I attach a couple more photos.

So there is more than one place that this fungus is growing. Who done the renovations - did your dad get a builder or did he do it himself?

listermint

I'd be frank and say all the plaster has to come down asap.

Calahonda52

Rampant dry rot, which is a big problem to deal with as the mycelium permeate everything, blockwork included.
My big concern here is a catastrophic failure of some structural member such as rafters or floor joists or even chimney stacks.
This fungus would have been obvious to whoever did the refurb so time for some accountability once you make sure the structure is safe

Pandiculation

You’d also need to address it quickly because the wooden elements of the structure can collapse.

ongarite

Is it just me or is there mould on the walls in the first photos of the wall construction?

listermint

ongarite wrote: »

Is it just me or is there mould on the walls in the first photos of the wall construction?

Can't see mould but can see alot of damp on the lower wall paper.