Chimney wall in loft has white furry fungi and beams wet

[boon81]

Wonder if anyone can help, im in an end terrace 1930s house, I have only one brick wall in the loft that is the chimney wall. The rafter and beams next to the wall are wet and there seems to be a white Fungal growth on the wall and where the beams meet the wall. The fungi or mould is like candy floss in texture and spreads fairly fast. Asking around some people are suggesting condensation while others are saying to re-point chimney and check for cracks in mortar on top of the chimney, also a good idea is to seal the mortar and brick with thompsons water seal as marlin bricks do not breath. Any ideas or people with same problem?

 

[tony1851]

Pics would help here; the white stuff on the wall could be efflorescence (normal occurance on brickwork when persistently wet). The wet rafters could suggest water ingress. Could be the flashing needing fixing.

 

[boon81]

Thanks, ill get a pic. on here

 

[boon81]

Thanks, ill get a pic. on here

Untitled

• boon81
• 29 Mar 2014
• 1

Untitled

• boon81
• 29 Mar 2014
• 1

 

[boon81]

Any ideas what this is and how to cure it?

 

[RigidRaider]

Difficult to tell from the pics whether that's efflorescence or dry rot; is there a damp, mushroomy smell in the attic? Can you see little branchy tendrils where the growth is spreading? It could be coming from next door.

If there is it's dry rot, which means you've got a serious problem that needs major remedial work fast. If it's just efflorescence you just need to stop the water ingress and dry it out. I would start by getting a roofer in to look at the chimney and the flauching around the pot.

I have never tried it but I would guess that efflorescence would be brittle and salty-tasting as it is just crystalline salts.

 

[boon81]

Thanks!, behind that wall is the chimney breast and speaking with some of the neighbour's they have had same problem. There are no branchy tendrils on the brickwork or beams. The beams are damp but solid, if it was efflorescence then the salt from the mortar surely dissipated by now and would leave a powdery white substance rather than fungal?. The best way to describe the white mould is like a giant spider web ball - quite strong and hard to hoover, it sticks and hold well to the brick. I don't fancy tasting it to see if salt content!. Im hoping its water ingress through the chimney stack or failed flashing. Ill get up there are get some more pics. out of interest.
Thanks once again!

 

[RigidRaider]

Your description increases my concern! Have a look at the pictures on here:

http://www.wisepropertycare.com/dry-rot/what-is-dry-rot/identify/pictures/

And read this, which explains the seriousness of the problem:

http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/dry_rot.php

If it's dry rot you need to take remedial action fast. Stop messing with it and trying to vacuum it up for a start as you will be spreading the spores everywhere.