I have a number of exposed brick walls. The walls that are not shared with my niebors (this is a row house) have white discoloration (my shared walls do not).
what is this stuff? Should I be concerned? How can I be rid of it?
Thanks, M
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The longer length of these 3-in. stair gauges makes it easier to ensure an accurate layout when working with waned lumber.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
Hi there, Google efflorescence. It is simply the migration of salt through a prous material such as masonry. Wherever you see it is where water diffused through the brick and left the salt deposit behind. I believe this is what you are seeing. There is a lot of info online on getting rid of it aesthetically, but you ideally want to keep the water out at the source.
Yeah, efflorescence. Generally this is cosmetic, vs representing a structural problem, and usually the stuff can be removed with a fairly simple acid wash.
The possible structural problem would be if there is a lot of moisture driving though the wall, meaning that the discoloration keeps coming back after you wash it off. If there's too much moisture you need to somehow address that problem.