Okay, I admit it, there is wood here. But what a mess it is. Take a look at those joists that are being beaten by our weather here in the Pacific Northwet. When you see these you realize why an inspector likes to see a deck with a sub-structure built of pressure-treated lumber. When an inspector sees a deck like this -- heavy  fungal growth, and obvious saturation by water, there is little choice but to probe the wood in a few places. That way, when you find the rot and tell them to have the wood replaced, you have evidence supporting your recommendation. And, of course, when it looks like this, you can bet that there will be some wood decay or rot.  Wet wood rots. It is that simple. In this case the deck was about four feet of the ground -- too high to be fun if it came tumbling down. In some ways all this fungus is pretty, but it is not what you want to see under your deck or the deck you are inspecting. 

Thanks for looking.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspector