Unit 7 Decay of timber 1

Defects in timber: A Defects is an irregularity or abnormality occurring in or on wood which is responsible for it’s a)
Strength reduction, Lowering of Durablity, Lowering of Utility , Poor appearance and Decay.

Defects due to Insects: This defect is caused by a)Beetles b) Marine Boarers c) Termites

A) Beetles

 They form pin holes of size about 2mm dia in

wood.
 Tunnel formation is done in sap wood by
larvae of beetle.
 Conversion of timber into flour like powder.
 They do not disturb outer shell or cover.

B) Marine Boarers

 They are found in salty water.  Affected wood looses its colour and strength.
 They form tunnels or bores to take shelthers.  No timber is completely immune from attack
 Diameter and length of holes are as high as of marine boarers.
25mm and 60mm respectively.

C) Termites

 Lives in colony and very fast in eating away

the wood from core of cross section.
 Makes tunnels in different directions and
usually not disturb the outer shell or cover.
 The timber piece attaked by termites may
look sound until it completely fails.
 Few good timbers like teak , sal, etc can resist
the action of termites.

Defects due to fungi's: 1. When moisture content is more than

20%.
 The fungi's are plant organism which feed on 2. Presence of air and warmth.
timber and form decay of timber.
 The timber is susceptible to fungi's attack in Fungi's attack can be prevented by proper
generally two conditions. seasoning.
Unit 7 Decay of timber
Note: If a timber
piece is submerged in water, it is not
susceptible to fungi's attack because absence
of air and water.
1) Blue stain: Sap of wood is stained to
bluish colour by the action of certain fungi.
2) Brown Rot: Rot means decay or disease
certain type of fungi remove cellulose
compound from the timber and
converts it into brown color.
3) Dry Rot: Certain type of fungi feed on
timber and convert it into powdered from, it
is called dry rot. Dry rot occurs at place
where, there is no free circulation of air or
lack of ventilation i.e kitchens , bathrooms
etc.
2
l) Unseasoned wood and sapwood are easily
attack to dry rot.
ll) Well seasoned timber can be easily
prevented by attack of dry rot.
lll) When part of timber is seriously affected
by dry rot, this affected portion should
completely be removed and this part should
be coated with copper sulphate.
4) Heart rot: It is formed when a branch has
come out of tree and heart wood is exposed
to the attack of atmospheric agents.
Ultimately the tree becomes weak and it
gives out hollow sound when stuck with a
hammer.
5) Sap stain: Fungi of certain types do not
bring about the complete decay of timber.
But they feed on cell contents of sapwood.
The n the sap wood loses its colour. This is
known as sap stain. It generally occurs when
Unit 7 Decay of timber 3

moisture content goes beyond 25%. cellulose compounds.

6) Wet Rot: Some varieties of fungi cause

chemical decomposition of wood of the
timber and in doing so, they convert timber
into a greyish brown powder, this is known as
the wet rot.

7) White rot: This defect is just the opposite

of brown rot. Certain types of fungi attack
lignin of wood and the wood consumes the
appearance of a white mass consisting of