Sound WoodBlog
Practical notes on sonic decay testing, written by an arborist for arborists.
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How sonic tomography finds decay inside a tree
Why sound slows down in decayed wood, what a transit time really measures, and how crossing paths turn a handful of numbers into a map of the trunk.
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How to read a sonic decay map
Green, yellow and red, the pocket map, and the decay range: what each part of the map is telling you, and how to put it into words for a client.
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When to test a tree for internal decay
The outside signs that point to decay inside, the situations where a sonic test earns its time, and where on the trunk to place the sensor positions.
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Common sonic decay test mistakes and how to avoid them
Loose nails, wrong circumference, typos, cracks and gaps in coverage: the mistakes that throw off a sonic test, and the quick habits that prevent them.
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Decay fungi at the base of a tree, and what they mean for testing
Conks and mushrooms at the root flare are the clearest outside sign of decay inside. What they tell you, what they don't, and how to test around them.
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Sonic testing vs. resistance drilling: when to use each
One gives you a map of the whole cross-section, the other a detailed line through it. What each is good at, and why they work best together.
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How to write a tree decay report your client will understand
What you tested, what you found, what it means and what to do next. A simple structure that turns a sonic test into a report a client can act on.
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Retesting a tree for decay over time
Keeping a tree with decay often means watching it. How to set up a test you can repeat, and how to compare this year's map with last year's.
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Why softwoods and poplars need different decay cutoffs
Sound travels at different speeds in an oak, a pine and a cottonwood. Why one cutoff can't fit every tree, and how Sound Wood's three tiers were chosen.
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Worked example: a blackgum with a basal cavity
A step-by-step walk through a sonic test on a blackgum with an open cavity at the base, from setup to decay map to the words in the report.
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How much decay is too much in a tree?
Clients want a number. Why there isn't one magic percentage, what the rules of thumb leave out, and what actually goes into the call.