The Forestry Forum

Can I expect heart rot to continue to spread within a beam that I am putting into a house? I cut a foot or so off the 8x8 beam but there is still a circle of rot (1.5 inch diameter) in the end. The other end of the 10 ft beam is OK.

I do not think I would put any beam with rot into my house. Has the beam been stamped? What grade is it?

Rot is rot, and the strength of wood is compromised before the rot is visible to the eye.
So if the strength of the beam is important, then do not us it. just sayin...

Any New rot will stop once the wood is dry below about 20% MC. Of course if it gets exposed to moisture again in the future, then it can resume it's spread. "Dry Rot" is mis-conception, although the wood can appear "dry" it's rotted because moisture has got at it, and the fungus has broken down all the structure of the wood.

So 2 questions.
Is the rot coming from the bottom of the log, and will be tapering off as it goes up? Or is the damage further up the log and it could be more compromised.

And, how critical to the structure is the beam? It will be some % weaker due to the rot. Enough to matter?

It's not stamped, it's a cosmetic beam. I'm presuming the rot started at the base of the tree as I commonly see and I suppose it will be years before the center of an 8x8 drops to 20% mc  :D hmmmm

If it's not structural, and is not going to get wet, you should be fine.