[dnwong]

I was planning to refinish some wooden deck furniture from Restoration Hardware. When I turned over one of the chairs, I see what looks like mud trails on the bottom. However, I have a 2 story high composite deck. I always thought ground contact is necessary for termite to attack. And only the one chair out of 6 was affected.







What kinda of bugs do this kind of damage?

So, I took the chair apart. Did not see any bugs in the eaten wood. To be safe, threw all the infested wood away and kept the good pieces for spare parts.

Or should I throw the whole chair away to be safe?

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by dnwong

I was planning to refinish some wooden deck furniture from Restoration Hardware. When I turned over one of the chairs, I see what looks like mud trails on the bottom. However, I have a 2 story high composite deck. I always thought ground contact is necessary for termite to attack. And only the one chair out of 6 was affected.

Attachment 58808

Attachment 58809

Attachment 58810

What kinda of bugs do this kind of damage?

So, I took the chair apart. Did not see any bugs in the eaten wood. To be safe, threw all the infested wood away and kept the good pieces for spare parts.

Or should I throw the whole chair away to be safe?

fungus

[cmartin]

Are you referring to the holes? or are they screw holes? I've had carpenter bees leave similar holes. But it sounds like the holes should be there and its fungus. Cleanup with a borate solution.

[Patrick3000]

Carpenter ants

[Vicegrip]

Dudley noted no signs of insects. Carpenter ants only damage wood they intend to live in or pass through, they don't eat wood like termites do.
OTOH Dry rot fungus is often localized and some forms look just like his images. There are a number of them that fall under the "Dry rot" grouping. Random google found site with images.

https://www.permagard.co.uk/advice/t...ry-rot-wet-rot

Easy to deal with. Replace the bad wood. borax or weak chlorine soak and keep things under 20% moisture content.

[dnwong]

Originally Posted by cmartin

Are you referring to the holes? or are they screw holes? I've had carpenter bees leave similar holes. But it sounds like the holes should be there and its fungus. Cleanup with a borate solution.

Those are screw holes. But they were filled with the reddish brown stuff. I dug a couple of the holes to see what was in there.

[dnwong]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

Dudley noted no signs of insects. Carpenter ants only damage wood they intend to live in or pass through, they don't eat wood like termites do.
OTOH Dry rot fungus is often localized and some forms look just like his images. There are a number of them that fall under the "Dry rot" grouping. Random google found site with images.

https://www.permagard.co.uk/advice/t...ry-rot-wet-rot

Easy to deal with. Replace the bad wood. borax or weak chlorine soak and keep things under 20% moisture content.

I don't remember which chair, but I do remember some mushroom like looking fungus a few years ago growing between the slats of the chair. Hmm... I guess fungus would be easier to deal with then termites. In fact, I see some growing along the molding of the windows. I need to look into it more.

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

OTOH Dry rot fungus is often localized and some forms look just like his images. There are a number of them that fall under the "Dry rot" grouping. Random google found site with images.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Recommend NOT using search terms "Dudley's dry rot" or "Dudley's fungus"

[dnwong]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Recommend NOT using search terms "Dudley's dry rot" or "Dudley's fungus"

So, you think this will work for my wood fungus...

[dnwong]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

Dudley noted no signs of insects. Carpenter ants only damage wood they intend to live in or pass through, they don't eat wood like termites do.
OTOH Dry rot fungus is often localized and some forms look just like his images. There are a number of them that fall under the "Dry rot" grouping. Random google found site with images.



Easy to deal with. Replace the bad wood. borax or weak chlorine soak and keep things under 20% moisture content.

I have stuff that looks a little like this growing on my window molding. See Below.