Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Apr 06, 2008 11:46 am Hi Guys,
Just a little query. I've got some white powder appearing along some parts of the bottom line of bricks on my home. WE recently put a concrete slab in the backyard and built a patio on top of it, adjoining the house. This phenomena also appears along the front of the house on the bottoms bricks also......pics are below.... http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 061ua0.jpg http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 062or4.jpg http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 063ru1.jpg Is it any cause for concern....? Any help would be greatly appreciated...! regards, Rob. Re: white powder on bricks 2Apr 06, 2008 11:53 am robbybee Hi Guys, Just a little query. I've got some white powder appearing along some parts of the bottom line of bricks on my home. WE recently put a concrete slab in the backyard and built a patio on top of it, adjoining the house. This phenomena also appears along the front of the house on the bottoms bricks also...... If you would like photos, send me your e-mail address, as I cannot post photo's up on this forum! Any help would be greatly appreciated...! regards, Rob. I'm no expert but have seen something similar in new homes built on very reactive soils in Adelaide. DH says it is salt coming up through bricks (or from soil cant remember which). He called it effervescent. Re: white powder on bricks 3Apr 06, 2008 12:03 pm the white powder is called effervesanse (dont know correct spelling)
it is basicly salt residue coming out of either the concrete or the brick mortar goto a local paving suppliier and ask for anti-eff this will solve your problem Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: white powder on bricks 4Apr 06, 2008 12:48 pm It's called Efflorescence and from one of my text books....occasionally they are useful....!
It occurs in masonry construction, particularly brick, as in concrete. When water moves through a wall or other structure, or water is being driven out as a result of the heat of hydration as cement stone is being formed (techo term for concrete going off), brings salts to the surface that are not commonly bound to the cement. As the water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind, which forms a white, fluffy deposit, that can normally be brushed off. The resulting white deposits are referred to as "efflorescence". Since primary efflorescence brings out salts that are not ordinarily part of the cement stone, it is not a structural, but, rather, an aesthetic concern. In your case it may be that if that concrete is brand new and there was only soil there before any moisture in the top layer of dirt would have evaporated out through the soil. Now the moisture is trapped below the slab and has found it's way through the brickwork because it's more porous and bringing some salts out. It should stop after a relatively short period of time. How old is the slab and was the soil damp when you laid the concrete? I reiterate I wouldn't be concerned about it....but you could get your concreter to have a look if your concerned. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: white powder on bricks 5Apr 06, 2008 1:05 pm Yes its EFFLORESCENCE! In can often be removed with a phosphoric acid solution, brushed on, left for about 15 mins and rinsed off. However, you may find it reoccurs.
The best product is a specialised solution called Effex. It not only removes the efflorescence, but inhibits its return, and is less destruictive than the acids. http://www.aquamix.com.au/products/eff-ex.php Ash. Re: white powder on bricks 6Apr 06, 2008 1:24 pm royalblue The best product is a specialised solution called Effex. It not only removes the efflorescence, but inhibits its return, and is less destruictive than the acids. http://www.aquamix.com.au/products/eff-ex.php Ash. Traditional fix was the phosporic acid but the aquamix is good stuff perfect for domestic application...don't like acids around the house... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: white powder on bricks 7Apr 06, 2008 1:28 pm Fair enough!
Mind you, you better get rid of Coke and all those other soft drinks, its full of phosphoric acid! It is a food grade acid, and a lot safer than many other (industrial) acids. But yeah, Effex is the best way o go. Ash. Re: white powder on bricks 8Apr 06, 2008 1:56 pm royalblue Fair enough! Mind you, you better get rid of Coke and all those other soft drinks, its full of phosphoric acid! It is a food grade acid, and a lot safer than many other (industrial) acids. But yeah, Effex is the best way o go. Ash. Didn't know that...well I've learnt the one thing I need to for the day... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: white powder on bricks 9Apr 06, 2008 9:24 pm Thanks for all your replies, really appreciate it. I was just real concerned that it may be that water was going in between the walls via the patio and gutters, causing these salts to appear. However, it seems pretty plausible that it's the soils trying to breathe or something, as it is happening to the lower bricks in front of the house near the concrete driveway also...
The soil is bronze hard clay-like one, prevalent around the western brisbane suburbs... Put it this way, it was a real pain to dig the post holes when putting my retaining wall up!!! Re: white powder on bricks 10Apr 06, 2008 9:31 pm Also forgot to mention that it rained two weeks non-stop after we put the slab in, so could be that the soil below is only now drying out, which explains it all...the slab has been in for about 4 months now.... Re: white powder on bricks 11Apr 06, 2008 10:20 pm robbybee it seems pretty plausible that it's the soils trying to breathe err...I was more thinking drying out...your making it sound like something out of a Stephen King novel and I'm freakin' out here... ....or did you bury an enemy ! ! ! ! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Looking at some of the designs on websites, they are all selling very similar products. I get that you want something stylish. It's worth looking for search terms like SaveH2O… 2 7006 Looking for advice on whether this variation in tile colour is acceptable. The large tile on the left was used in my main bathroom renovation 1 year ago. My ensuite… 0 8488 |