What is Efflorescence?

8/1/2018 (Permalink)

Efflorescence is a crystalline deposit of salts that can form when water is present in or on brick, concrete, stone, stucco or other building surfaces. It has a white or greyish tint and consists of salt deposits left behind when water evaporates. In addition, efflorescence can appear as a powdery substance on floors and walls and requires special care to treat.

What Causes Efflorescence?

Three conditions must exist for efflorescence to occur:

• Water-soluble salts must be present.
• Moisture must be available to transform salts into a soluble solution.
• Salts must be able to move through a material to its surface. The moisture will then evaporate and cause the salts to crystallize, resulting in efflorescence.

Water, rain and snow are the primary sources of moisture and may impact the degree of efflorescence. Condensation, groundwater wicking and interior activities also may affect the degree of moisture generation.

Efflorescence can occur in natural as well as developed environments. The effect often looks cosmetic but what it’s communicating is that water intrusion has/is occurring and needs to be addressed. It is important to note that over time this process can weaken structures and also lead to additional damage if not taken care of properly. Efflorescence can be removed with the application of various phosphoric acids, followed by a thorough rinsing of water. However, if the source of the water penetration is not taken care of, efflorescence may continue to occur. Contact your local contractor to help seal and strengthen your structure by creating vapor-permeable barriers to your porous materials - often attained through applying hydro-phobic sealers to keep the water out of your porous materials

Hopefully, next time you spot efflorescence coming out of your home or office - you can help diagnose the problem and prevent further damage.