How to identify wet rot:

• A black fungus may appear on wood.
• The wood is likely to feel soft and spongy to the touch with discoloration present.
• If the decay has dried out the wood will crack and crumble easily.
• The paint finish will be damaged, it can be a sign of wet rot fungus, however in some cases, the paint can look okay underneath but may be rotting from the back.
  
  

How to identify dry rot:

• The fungus leaves deep cracks running across the grain with evidence of white sheets and are present on the wood.
• When the fungus is exposed to light it can have a lemon-yellowish tinge look to it.
• The wood will be brown in color and will crumble due to dry rot feeding on the wood.
• Damage is usually restricted to the wood, however in some cases, large flat mushroom-like fungus can easily grow through finishes such as plaster or paint.

Dry rot also attracts wood eating insects like termites!