ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses in detail the phenomenon of biodeterioration of building materials, including aspects of microbial colonisation of their surfaces and contamination of their structures, often leading to destruction of the affected materials. The possibilities of microbial corrosion initiation were analysed, taking into account the physical (e.g. porosity) and biological (e.g. availability of organic matter necessary for proper microbial growth) features of the particular material. The characteristics of bacteria and fungi responsible for the biodeterioration of the most frequently used building materials such as wood, stone, brick, mortar, concrete, metals, paint coatings, products containing paper (wallpapers, plasterboards), glass and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are presented, taking into account the phenomenon of microorganism succession. Major symptoms of microbial corrosion are also described in the chapter, including the most common morphological (e.g. discolouration or fibrillation) and structural (e.g. decrease in strength) changes in corroded materials.
