Efflorescence is a deposit of soluble salt. It can be present in mortar, brick, and concrete and possibly found in the material used for backfill. We often see this develop and build on interior and exterior surfaces where there is water penetration.

It usually is not a structural problem but rather an irritating cosmetic issue. It can also be a warning that your foundation walls are seeping water, holding water or just staying moist.

Typically efflorescence will develop when soluble salts are present in the wall, the concrete, the brick or the mortar. When you add water to these salts then the salts will be carried to the surface. As it begins to dry and evaporate the salts surface from the mixture and remain on the surface and these become the visible deposits.

Removal of these deposits can be as simple as scraping them off the wall and then washing the wall or going to extensive measures of using an acid wash. Before attempting any of these clean up solutions you first need to remove the source of moisture. Without moisture you will eliminate the build up of efflorescence.

If you decide to use acid to clean the surface please make sure to take all the safety precautions recommended. It is not recommended to just wash the wall with water, since this can cause the salts to back up into the wall.

If you are going to put up a brick wall make sure to use washed sand for your mortar. This will help to remove some of the soluble salts which are often found in construction material and ultimately can lead to the development of efflorescence.

We have seen efflorescence stop developing once the water source has been eliminated.

If you have efflorescence in your wall, call in a home inspector to evaluate your situation and provide you with recommendations. You may have more issues than you think.

Article courtesy of Stan A. Garnet, code certified ASHI property inspector.

www.Ineedaninspector.com 

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