it is generally accepted that wood-based boards show a greater resistance to decay than solid wood, although these products are still susceptible to biological attack (Curling and Murphy, 1999). Chung et al. (1999) showed that wood-based composite boards were as susceptible to microorganisms as solid wood. Phenolic resin-bonded boards are preferred in building construction for protection against water and high humidify; however, fungal attackin the