What moisture content level is critical for preventing severe wood decay?

To prevent severe wood decay, it’s crucial to maintain wood moisture content below 20 percent. When wood retains moisture at or above this level, it creates an ideal environment for decay fungi and other wood-destroying organisms to thrive. These organisms require moisture not only for their metabolic processes but also to penetrate and degrade wood fibers.

Moisture content of 20 percent and above means that wood is wet enough to support the growth of these microorganisms, leading to potential structural damage and weakening of the wood. Therefore, understanding this threshold is vital for anyone involved in pest control or building maintenance, as it directly impacts wood preservation practices and prevention of damage from wood-decaying fungi.

In contrast, while lower moisture levels (like 10 or 15 percent) are beneficial for wood protection, they are not the defining threshold for preventing severe decay, which specifically identifies 20 percent as the critical cutoff. Higher percentages like 25 percent would definitely promote decay, reinforcing the importance of keeping wood properly dried and monitored to avoid fungal growth.