Found this fungus/mushrooms in the attic on a very old and dry piece of wood. Its an older part of the original house. The actual rafters for the new roof are above this location. I’m not an expert on mushrooms. Online research says that if there are mushrooms then there must be a moisture problem of some kind but the wood is bone dry and brittle. I’m guessing the mushrooms are dried out and no longer an issue. If anyone has some expertise they could share about this, I would appreciate it.
Definitely a moisture intrusion at some time.
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yes. now that everything is dry and its not even structural, do any precautions need to be taken or can the contractor just go in there and remove the wood?
Report what you observe, if refer to a “contractor” let them decide on the action to be taken.
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I suspect you used a moisture meter?
How did you determine that it wasn’t anything structural?
Edit:
Never mind. I see the picture orientation now.
Since the area was dry (your observation), due to the obvious bowing and splintering of the wood, I would simply call that out as damaged sheathing.
depending on your report style, you may want to use something to the effect of this:
“Microbial growth was observed on the underside of the roof on a damaged portion of roof sheathing. Moisture readings of xx% (pictured) showed that it was dry at this time, although moisture is required for microbial growth. Recommend repair by a licensed qualified professional.”
Folks don’t often refer to fungal growth as microbial. While it’s technically true most of the time, it’s not very precise. You wouldn’t refer to fungal hyphae as a microbe for example.
I would not recommend repair on something dry that has been re-roofed. I would note it in the report however. “prior sheathing damaged from water intrusion showed evidence of fungal growth, no elevated moisture level was found at the time of inspection.” Then you have the conversation with the owner that it should be looked at during or after some rain and see if anything has changed.
Well, I have for a long time and fungi is a microbial type growth. I am careful not to identify any growth as mold, fungi, mildew etc.
What is that evidence? Why not say exactly what you saw?
On the right side of the attic, there was visible microbial type growth and moisture damage at the roof sheathing and rafters. The damage was old and dry. This portion of the roof structure is secondary to the added upper roof structure. Recommend remediation and repairs as needed by a qualified contractor.
Note: Somewhere in our training NACHI discourages the use of the word evidence. I think it was because evidence is typically reserved for forensic or legal fields.
This isn’t very clear. How many verbal instructions do you leave with a buyer? Are you recommending further action or monitoring at a later date when conditions change? What are they to look for? What are they to do if conditions do change? Finally, if it gets wet or humid up there where the ventilation has been altered, who knows what will happen? It could be a shroom farm. 
Some would say worse things could happen, lol.
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Typically none. If I saw a growth of some sort on the ceiling but it was dry and the area had been re-roofed, I wouldn’t have them spend hundreds or thousands on a specialist to identify something that doesn’t appear to be a problem.
Fwiw, Microbes are not typically visible. Hence that pesky micro. I am a licensed WDO inspector in the state of Florida, so yeah, I can call out a fungus if I see it.
If you want to use organic growth, that’s more appropriate.
I may continue to disagree. And you may note that I did not say anything about spending thousands of dollars. I recommended a remediation and repair. Nothing crazy, just address the issue.
# Mold and Microbial Growth Awareness, Prevention, Guidelines for Reporting and Remediation
Mold and Microbial Growth Awareness, Prevention, Guidelines for Reporting and Remediation
Background
Molds are part of the fungi kingdom, which includes yeasts, molds, smuts and mushrooms. Molds are ubiquitous—many thousands of mold species can be found indoors and outdoors throughout the year. They can grow almost anywhere, as long as optimal temperatures, moisture, oxygen, and food sources, such as organic matter are present. Growth of mold thrives in warm, humid places such as bathrooms, kitchens, or basements.
Mold spores cannot be eliminated, but actions to prevent and remediate can be taken. Mold spores can enter buildings through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets.
Mold (microbial growth) will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. Microbial growth grows on paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles and wood. Microbial growth can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
And we can press further into the “mold testing industry”
Testing
Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of microbial growth in a building, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommended routine sampling. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of microbial growth, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining potential health risk. Furthermore, standards for judging what is and is not acceptable or a tolerable quantity have not been established.
Because of the variation in the effect of microbial growth on individuals, there are currently no government regulations regarding the presence or control of indoor microbial growth. However, most experts agree that the prevention of active growth is prudent, in order to prevent potential problems.
Here is a practical resource that supports my recommendation.
This is typically shocking to people.
CDC does not recommend mold testing.
The health effects of mold are different for different people so you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know whether someone might become sick. No matter what type of mold is present, you need to remove it.
Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and there are no set standards for what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of different kinds of mold in a home. The best thing you can do is to safely remove the mold and prevent future mold growth.
Mold | Mold | CDC
Addressing that issue properly requires pulling off a new roof section and replacing the decking boards. Around here that starts about $1500 bucks because no roofer will show up for under that. The particular board looks compromised and/or punky/rotten.
If you’re talking about removing the organic growth and wiping it with bleach, then just say that. But since you’re risk averse, you’re going to call for a specialist who’s going to charge them a lot of money to take off the substance and squirt it with bleach.
Finally, we are all risk adverse so I take no offense to that. And though CYA reporting has creeped into our industry, the above case does not fall into this category.
If I thought it should not or need not to be addressed then it would never made my report or my conversation. And I didn’t call in a specialist (reread it if you must). Furthermore, I am not a handyman and I do not assume the responsibility of the cost to cure or the method this will occur.
I do not fill my reports with fluff (as many do because it they think it makes them look thorough or competent but in fact it screams lack of confidence). I do not verbally indicate my true intentions to my clients while my report say something else.
If you’re referring to my above statement, that was simply that I wasn’t codifying a course of action. I was suggesting how I would treat it, how they handle it is their business and it starts a conversation about the severity or lack there-of.
I’m there, I checked something, I take a picture it’s not everything but a representation of whatever system I’m inspecting. It has zero to do with a lack of confidence. I have yet to have anyone complain that I’ve included pictures in my report. I have however had buyers tell me, specifically, that my report was so much better than the previous guy at their other home. In fact, one person said to me and I quote “I’m not sure the guy even went up on the roof”. Just “checked a box” Roof OK.
It goes in the body, if they don’t want to read it, they don’t have to. Some do and some have used those “fluff” photos to show that movers damaged the home. Shrug, I feel like I’m documenting the home, it’s condition and it’s flaws.
So, in your report, you say, “Do nothing,” then off to the side, you tell them what you would do if you were in their shoes. Is there a reason why you would not narrate this? What if they are old, sick, or handicapped? The discussion happens in the report, IMO.
Yep, I do that. I mark inspected. That was my course of action, and my report indicated as much.
No, my report is silent on what I would do or wouldn’t do. I’m just telling them what I see. The conversation is about what I would do and what they could do and it includes their abilities. Almost every client I have doesn’t climb ladders, so I encourage them to ask me about these things and what should be done. If it’s an anomalous thing like a damaged plank from the old roof, I could write a book on how to manage it. In many cases, I ask them what they are willing to do and offer some suggestions. I really have no aversion to offering suggestions, but in this particular case the gamut of options is very wide from a full “remove the roof and replace the planks” to “knock it off with a broom handle and squirt it with bleach”.
If this looked new and active, I’d tell them to get someone in there, get it dried up and fixed, no question. In this case? Meh. It could probably be safely ignored(new roof after all), but I wouldn’t ignore it until I knew I could ignore it.
Maybe it’s a Florida thing because I take a picture of every slope, every vent and every plumbing or hvac penetration from the roof. If they come back at me within a certain time frame for a 4point or wind mit, I don’t even have to take the pictures, they’re already done. The same for the water heater, electrical panel and under sink plumbing. In most cases, I can construct a 4 point right out of my main report without much drama. I usually don’t include visual under sink photos, so those are extra but I should probably start. I do include under sink thermal photos though. I took them and I have them, may as well show 'em. I have found sink leaks with it as well, so it’s work for a purpose.
A wind mit requires more documentation though and that I don’t do unless it’s paid as part of the main inspection.
Interesting standard. Best of luck. Not what I would be teaching any new inspector.
Try this: Write your report first, then have a conversation with the client and see if your narratives align with your verbal recommendations after the fact.
wow. i honestly did not think it was a big deal. fwiw, i am not allowed to make that call to identify it and have been instructed to call anything microbial growth. liability reasons and all that. you guys can continue to argue the semantics of the growth but i’ll call them like i see them in cases like this. have a great day both of you.
Thanks, remember, you are not the only one reading this. The discussion is now all about the narrative. Which, for the record, yours was very good in my opinion.
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