Jump-To:
- What Causes Efflorescence?
- How to Spot Efflorescence
- Preventing Efflorescence
- How to Remove Efflorescence
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 that remain on the surface after water evaporates. In addition, efflorescence can appear as a powdery substance on floors and walls and requires special care to treat.
Let’s take a closer look at efflorescence and what you can do to help prevent it.
Purchase Gator Efflorescence Cleaner
What Causes Efflorescence?
You may notice efflorescence both indoors and outside, and it can vary in frequency and intensity throughout the country due to moisture and temperature. Three conditions need to exist for efflorescence to occur:
- There are water-soluble salts in or on the material.
- Moisture is present to make the salt become a soluble solution.
- As salts move to the material’s surface, the moisture evaporates. This makes the salts crystallize, which results 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 happen at different times. Essentially, it can either be a problem from the beginning of a building’s construction, or the process can occur over time. Primary efflorescence usually occurs within the first 72 hours of the building material being used, appearing due to excess water being present when the material was manufactured. Secondary efflorescence is a result of outside moisture pulling the salt out of the building material.
In many instances, efflorescence may occur during home construction. If masonry units get left out overnight during construction, they’ll likely absorb moisture from damp soil and rain. It is essential for masonry units to be covered and left in pallets to minimize the risk of efflorescence throughout a construction project.
Efflorescence can also occur when building materials are installed incorrectly or problems occur with the installation. Some common examples of this include:
- Using through-wall flashings incorrectly.
- Failing to provide sufficient ventilation for masonry.
- Installing masonry without an efficient barrier for moisture.
- Joint materials failing after installation.
- Materials being stored improperly or left on the ground.
Efflorescence is often a seasonal problem, and humidity will impact whether soluble salts appear. It usually escalates in winter, since rain, snow, sleet and other inclement weather conditions may arise. However, efflorescence can still occur in spring, fall and summer.
How to Spot Efflorescence
Understanding the differences between efflorescence and stains is critical. Stains usually come in various colors but may appear similar to efflorescence at first. Efflorescence is a white, powdery substance that can be found on unsealed surfaces, including:
- Brick: Since it is porous, brick may absorb soluble salts. To determine whether efflorescence will be a problem for your brick, take a single brick and immerse it in distilled water for approximately seven days. Let the brick dry after the seven days and compare it to a brick that was not immersed. If you notice a powdery, white material on the brick, it likely has effloresced.
- Cement: Portland cement used in mortar and grout highly contributes to efflorescence in these materials, according to the Brick Industry Association (BIA). It is high in alkalis and is more likely to effloresce than other types of cement. Conversely, it is important to note that all types of cement contain some amount of water-soluble alkalis, making any cement vulnerable to efflorescence.
- Lime: Lime is a water-soluble material that produces calcium chloride when it reacts with unbuffered hydrochloric acid. The calcium chloride is what may surface through a building’s material. Comparatively, lime can help improve bonds between mortar and brick and make masonry materials more water-resistant.
- Sand: Sand is used in grout and mortar and isn’t water-soluble. On the other hand, other materials can contaminate sand, which ends up contributing to efflorescence. For building projects, it’s best to use sand that’s been cleaned and is contamination-free to help minimize the chance of efflorescence developing.
- Clay: Building brick and face brick consist of clay, which contains salts that are highly soluble. Clay may react with common building salts like calcium sulfate that result in efflorescence.
- Admixtures: An admixture’s bond and strength can increase the possibility of efflorescence with building material. Generally, it’s best to err on the side of caution with admixtures. If you’re unsure what is included in the admixture itself, you may want to avoid this solution entirely.
- Backings: Concrete and other backing materials may contain soluble salts, contributing to the efflorescence of brickwork. If sufficient water is present in backings, salts may dissolve, causing the backing materials to effloresce.
- Trim: Caps, keystones and other trim may consist of building materials with soluble salts that can be difficult to control. As such, you should consider which trim materials to use before you start a building project to reduce the chance of efflorescence.
Buy Our Efflorescence Cleaner Online
Any building materials that come into contact with the ground may be susceptible to efflorescence. But if you know the root causes of efflorescence, you can select the right building materials and prevent this problem from occurring.
Efflorescing salts are associated with a number of building materials, including:
- Calcium sulfate: An efflorescing salt source commonly found in brick
- Sodium sulfate: Often seen in cement-brick reactions
- Potassium sulfate: Noticeable in many cement-brick reactions
- Calcium carbonate: May be discovered in mortar or concrete backing
- Sodium carbonate: Frequently seen in mortar
- Potassium carbonate: Like sodium carbonate, commonly found in mortar
- Vanadyl sulfate: Usually found in brick
- Manganese oxide: Often present in brick
Choosing the right building materials is paramount for any building project. If you understand the impact of efflorescence on various building materials — and how to spot efflorescence — you should have no trouble minimizing this problem.
What Is Efflorescence on Pavers and Other Materials Indicative Of?
In French, the efflorescence definition means “to flower out.” If you fail to control efflorescence properly, the issue can spread quickly.
Porous building materials such as concrete, pavers and stucco can absorb or wick water and draw salts to it. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) points out that porous building materials are able to absorb or wick moisture over a six-mile span, carrying it through a material similar to how a tree transports water through its roots up to the leaves. This is known as capillary action. When efflorescence happens, it can indicate a moisture issue that could potentially damage the structure.
When water reaches a building material’s surface, evaporation will occur. After the water evaporates, salt is left behind, but water absorption and wicking continue. This creates a high salt concentration, leading to osmosis. During osmosis, water moves toward salt to reduce its concentration, causing large hydrostatic pressures within the porous building material. As a result, these pressures can damage or destroy the material.
InterNACHI states osmosis can cause pressure that ranges from 2,000 psi to 3,000 psi, exceeding the structural strength of concrete. Therefore, osmosis may result in porous building material cracking, flaking or falling apart. Osmosis also may result in spalling, the separation of building material due to hydrostatic pressure.
Ultimately, efflorescence itself isn’t dangerous. However, it can lead to potential moisture problems that can cause structural damage to building materials. That means if you find efflorescence in the basement or on concrete and other structures, it’s important to take action.
Preventing Efflorescence
Taking care of building materials before, during and after the construction process can help prevent efflorescence. To keep a building in it’s best condition, consider taking some precautions. There are many solutions to prevent efflorescence, including:
- Hydrophobic sealant: Applying an impregnating hydrophobic sealant to a building material’s surface can prevent the absorption of water. The sealant also will stop water from traveling within a building material.
- Capillary breaks: Installing capillary breaks such as polyethylene sheeting between building material and soil can minimize the risk of salt entering the material.
- Quality masonry construction: Implementing overhanging copings, eaves and flashings will minimize the risk of water entering a wall.
- Increased emphasis on landscaping and sprinklers: Paying special attention to landscaping and sprinklers will ensure you can prevent water from reaching porous building materials.
- Installing grout with mechanical vibration: Consolidating grout with mechanical vibration will limit the chance of voids in the grout.
- Using dense tooled mortar joints: Leveraging dense tooled mortar joints reduces the porous nature of a wall, making it tough for salts to migrate through it.
- Utilizing grout admixtures: Grout admixtures, such as chemical additives that are designed to improve the flow of a grout mix and reduce its water content simultaneously, may reduce voids in the grout.
- Storing masonry materials properly: Keeping masonry materials off the ground and covering them with waterproof materials can protect these materials against groundwater and precipitation.
While there are several things you can do to try and prevent efflorescence from occurring, it’s still always a possibility. This is why it’s also important to understand how to troubleshoot and clean efflorescence if it does occur.
Gator Efflorescence Cleaner & Shampoo
Ways to Troubleshoot Efflorescence
When efflorescence does occur, it’s important that you’re able to troubleshoot and know what to assess to help determine the possible reason behind it. Determining this will help you decide how to remedy the situation. Consider the following when efflorescence is detected on a building:
- Assess the affected structure: How old was the affected structure when the efflorescence first appeared? If the structure is less than a year old, the efflorescence source likely is the building material itself and/or water that entered the structure during construction. Or, if the structure is over a year old, you’ll want to examine it closely for possible leaks. In this situation, efflorescence may occur due to a new source of water in the building material.
- Observe the location of the efflorescence: By looking at the location of the efflorescence, you might determine the water source that is causing the issue. You should also consider the recent use of the building when figuring out where the moisture originated. For example, if a building has been vacant for several months, various conditions may have occurred that could have contributed to efflorescence.
- Check out the building material condition: Cracks or other defects in the building material may have led to efflorescence. Look at the condition of the building material and quality of the workmanship to identify any entry paths for moisture into the construction.
- Review the building construction: Evaluate wall sections and construction details to identify any possible moisture travel paths and sources of contamination by soluble salts. Check out the roof and wall juncture as well as flashing details. This review will help you determine the severity of the problem and potential steps to alleviate it.
- Collect laboratory reports: If possible, you should review laboratory test reports to determine the presence of soluble salts in the building materials and the area. These reports will provide valuable insights that may help you identify efflorescence and other potential building issues.
- Consider all water sources: Some of the most common water sources that may lead to efflorescence include condensation within a wall, leaky pipes and faulty drains. To identify all potential efflorescence sources, you may want to consider an extensive condensation analysis.
Allocating the necessary time and resources to prevent efflorescence can make a world of difference. By doing so, you can stop efflorescence from occurring — and reduce or eliminate the costs and time associated with removing this problem.
How to Remove Efflorescence
Luckily, there are some efflorescence remover techniques and home remedies you can try. Removing efflorescence can be quick and simple. In fact, efflorescing salts are water-soluble, which means efflorescence may disappear on its own due to normal weathering. Some of the best ways to remove efflorescence include:
- Pressurized water: Applying pressurized water may dissolve efflorescence quickly. If you use water, dry off the water from the building material after application. If you fail to remove the water, crystals may remain that can cause efflorescence to reappear.
- Diluted vinegar: If you’re in a pinch, household diluted white vinegar can be used on efflorescence. It’s less harmful than industrial chemicals and you most likely already have vinegar in your kitchen.
- Brushing: With a strong brush, you can remove efflorescence with ease.
To clean efflorescence off brick, it is crucial to complete this task in warm, dry weather. At this point, moisture may bring additional salts to the surface of brick, and the salts can be removed by dry brushing.
Clear water repellents, silicone and acrylic coatings also may help you remove efflorescence as well. The coating will absorb water across a masonry surface and prevent efflorescence from recurring. Plus, the combination of warm water and white wine vinegar has been shown to eliminate efflorescence.
Efflorescence cleaners are essential to use before applying any sealant because they clean deeply and effectively. To apply a coating correctly, you’ll want to use the following three-step process:
- Rinse the building surface: Rinse the building surface with water. If the surface is outdoors, you can use a hose to spray down the surface. Or, if the surface is indoors, you can use a spray bottle filled with water to rinse the surface thoroughly.
- Apply the cleaning solution: Spray the cleaning solution onto the building surface and allow it to sit for several minutes. If necessary, you may need to apply multiple coats of the cleaning solution to the surface for optimal results.
- Rinse the building surface again: Rinse the building surface with water one last time. Then, use a fresh, dry cloth to clean the surface. Ensure the surface is dry to minimize the risk of ongoing efflorescence.
Apply coatings roughly 1/8 in. to 1/4 in. below the surface of the building material. This will prevent water from evaporating and passing through the treated area as vapor and soluble salts.
Choose Nitterhouse Masonry Products for High-Quality Building Products
Since 1923, Nitterhouse Masonry Products has served as a family-owned and operated company that supplies superior building products and support. We’re now transitioning to our fifth generation, and we offer the latest in industrial, commercial and residential building materials. Perhaps best of all, our entire product line is backed by exceptional customer service, and we’ll go above and beyond the call of duty to assist you in any way we can.
Contact us today to find out how we can fulfill your building product needs. If you are looking for a cleaner, check out our Gator efflorescence cleaner and shampoo!
