is the tree safe?

[valvisdende]

Hello there.
Recently moved to a new house in Portland, Oregon.
There's a bigleaf maple in the back yard with a big tree house on it, a 10 feet-long conspicuous decay on the previously topped trunk and a blue powder fungi at the base of the trunk.
Would you consider that tree safe enough?
Thanks for your opinion.
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[senones]

doesnt necesarrily look like fungus to me. seems to be lichen at the base. column of decay should be investigated further with a drill bit or increment borer or something along those lines to see how much sound wood you actually have. establish a "sound wood ratio" to help make abatement decision.

 

[maloufstree]

I'd climb it, but if your worried about it take part of the deck out and drop it.

 

[ropensaddle]

Tree is safe don't know about the deck lol. I would not hesitate to climb that though.

 

[treeseer]

doesnt necesarrily look like fungus to me. seems to be lichen at the base. column of decay should be investigated further with a drill bit or increment borer or something along those lines to see how much sound wood you actually have. establish a "sound wood ratio" to help make abatement decision.

When much of this sound wood is woundwood, which is much stronger than regular wood, how do you factor the resultant strength gain??

No need to drill that tree. It's overdue for pruning; just do it.

Agree that the blue is lichen; benign.