Why there are white stain on the brick wall?

gamesover · Jul 31, 2024 8:12 pm

Kindly refer to the below picture
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ChatGPT identified the issue as efflorescence, indicating there might be a leak somewhere. However, I cannot see any obvious signs of leaking. Which type of tradesman should I contact to fix this issue?

Eng. B A · Aug 01, 2024 5:47 am

It doesn’t fit a pattern of efflorescence. It looks like an effect of a harsh chemical on the brick and mortar. You can see the brick mortar in the area has been eaten away. Look for the chemicals in your floor cleaner. Make sure they are safe to use over tiles, grout, mortars and bricks.
If you also have pets, pets urine on long term have bad effect on grout and brick mortar.

gamesover · Aug 01, 2024 9:47 pm

Eng. B A

It doesn’t fit a pattern of efflorescence. It looks like an effect of a harsh chemical on the brick and mortar. You can see the brick mortar in the area has been eaten away. Look for the chemicals in your floor cleaner. Make sure they are safe to use over tiles, grout, mortars and bricks.
If you also have pets, pets urine on long term have bad effect on grout and brick mortar.

Hmm, this is quite puzzling.

No one has been living in that bedroom, and we haven't used any chemicals to clean the floor. In fact, those areas are under a balcony that hasn't been cleaned for a long time since no one is living there. We also don't have any pets.

What steps can I take to fix this problem?

chippy · Aug 01, 2024 11:22 pm

gamesover

Eng. B A

It doesn’t fit a pattern of efflorescence. It looks like an effect of a harsh chemical on the brick and mortar. You can see the brick mortar in the area has been eaten away. Look for the chemicals in your floor cleaner. Make sure they are safe to use over tiles, grout, mortars and bricks.
If you also have pets, pets urine on long term have bad effect on grout and brick mortar.

Hmm, this is quite puzzling.

No one has been living in that bedroom, and we haven't used any chemicals to clean the floor. In fact, those areas are under a balcony that hasn't been cleaned for a long time since no one is living there. We also don't have any pets.

What steps can I take to fix this problem?

It looks like efflorescence to me. I wonder if it's a waterproofing issue on the balcony. The moisture is seeping through the screed bed on the balcony and finding it's way out down the face of the walls underneath.
If it is you won't be able to fix it without redoing the waterproofing. Even if you clean the efflorescence off it will just come back as it pulls salts out of the screed bed.

gamesover · Aug 01, 2024 11:47 pm

chippy

gamesover

Eng. B A

It doesn’t fit a pattern of efflorescence. It looks like an effect of a harsh chemical on the brick and mortar. You can see the brick mortar in the area has been eaten away. Look for the chemicals in your floor cleaner. Make sure they are safe to use over tiles, grout, mortars and bricks.
If you also have pets, pets urine on long term have bad effect on grout and brick mortar.

Hmm, this is quite puzzling.

No one has been living in that bedroom, and we haven't used any chemicals to clean the floor. In fact, those areas are under a balcony that hasn't been cleaned for a long time since no one is living there. We also don't have any pets.

What steps can I take to fix this problem?

It looks like efflorescence to me. I wonder if it's a waterproofing issue on the balcony. The moisture is seeping through the screed bed on the balcony and finding it's way out down the face of the walls underneath.
If it is you won't be able to fix it without redoing the waterproofing. Even if you clean the efflorescence off it will just come back as it pulls salts out of the screed bed.

Thanks so much for your replies. It reminds me the inspector sent me the inspection report with below content:

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Does it mean I need to redo waterproofing and tiles on the balcony?

Since I think waterproofing is under the tile, if redo waterproofing, I have to replace the tiles?

Eng. B A · Aug 02, 2024 5:29 am

I still believe it’s a chemical attack on the brick and mortar. Balcony Waterproofing failure would do damage like that. In addition you would see a leak in the room underneath during rainfall and you would know something wrong in the waterproofing.
How old is the house and when did you start noticing the stain?

gamesover · Aug 02, 2024 10:56 am

Eng. B A

I still believe it’s a chemical attack on the brick and mortar. Balcony Waterproofing failure would do damage like that. In addition you would see a leak in the room underneath during rainfall and you would know something wrong in the waterproofing.
How old is the house and when did you start noticing the stain?

I carefully examined the ceiling of the room beneath the balcony and did not see any obvious signs of water leakage.
The house is approximately 17 years old.
I noticed the white stains on the brick wall when I moved in a year ago. However, they have become more prominent over the past year.

I searched on Google, and some posts suggested that Shower Plug is effective in stopping leaks without redoing the waterproofing. Do you think it will work for me?
By the way, I took more pictures of the balcony.

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