The word efflorescence may be unfamiliar to you but most home and building owners have actually experienced its presence! Efflorescence is a crystalline salt deposit that appears on porous building surfaces like brick and other stone. Not only is it unappealing, but its presence could also indicate even more serious problems, making efflorescence removal services extremely important.
A Deeper Look at Efflorescence
The presence of efflorescence begins with salt. Salts can be found in the ground and in various construction materials like brick, cement, mortar, lime, clay, sand, admixtures, and backing materials.
Typically efflorescence is white but can also be yellow and brown depending on the salt and chemicals around. Some of the most common salts that can be found include calcium carbonate, manganese oxide, sodium carbonate, and potassium carbonate. The second ingredient needed for efflorescence to appear is water.
This water can be found during construction as it is being mixed with building materials and can also come from sprinkler systems, snow, rain, and even the ground. This water will dissolve the salt and then move it to the surface of brick walls and cement foundations. So as the water evaporates, the salt is then left behind creating efflorescence. Because it occurs naturally it can be extremely difficult to prevent, however it is important that you look into the efflorescence removal process if it does begin to appear.
It is also important to note that just the presence of these salts and water does not mean efflorescence will always appear. There are three factors that have to be in play.
- The first is that water soluble salts have to be present
- The second is moisture has to be available in order to turn the salt into a soluble solution
- And the third is that the salt has to be able to move through a material to the surface. Once that happens the moisture will begin to evaporate causing the salts to crystallize and creating efflorescence.
If you are in the process of building a new building it is important to know that efflorescence can occur during the construction property too. If bricks or other materials are left on the ground overnight they can absorb moisture from the ground. Thus making it extremely important to know the different scenarios that will result in needing efflorescence removal services during construction. Some of these problems include:
- Improper ground storage
- Incorrect use of through wall flashing
- Joint material failure
- The use of masonry without proper ventilation
- The use of masonry in areas that lack the correct moisture barrier
How to Prevent Efflorescence
The best way to tackle efflorescence head on is by working to prevent it from ever occurring. This will not only help you save money in the future but also time! When it comes to preventing efflorescence on new construction projects you have to choose your materials wisely. Here are some other tips and tricks to help prevent efflorescence.
- Proper drainage: When you are installing pavers it is important to make sure that bedding material and your grading will allow for proper drainage. You can even utilize permeable geotextiles to prevent the absorption of salt from the ground.
- Water repellent: After you are finished with mortar tooling and have completed the clean down process, applying a hydrophobic sealer will prevent the absorption of water from rain and snow.
- Architecture adjustments: Another way to avoid having to invest in efflorescence removal services is by making architectural adjustments. You can do this by ensuring that there are eaves, overhangs, or flashing present to reduce the chance of water from entering from above.
- Grout admixtures: Some grout admixtures can be used to reduce water content and reduce porosity making them the perfect solution for avoiding investing in efflorescence removal services.
- Consolidated grout: Another option to consider to prevent efflorescence is through the use of mechanical vibration and dense mortar joints. This can work to remove voids from the grout, decrease porosity, and slow the travel of water and salts between bricks and other efflorescence prone surfaces.f
Efflorescence Removal Services
When it comes to efflorescence removal there are a few different methods that can be used. First, it is important to know the length of time that the white powdery substance has been on the surface of your building. If it is fresh then you may be able to simply wash the area by wet scrubbing the surface- depending on the material.
However, if it has been present for a while and the efflorescence has become insoluble it is much harder to remove. Here are some ways that you can work to remove efflorescence from your building:
A Stiff Brush
On certain surfaces, you may be able to use a stiff brush to remove the efflorescence from your building. A stiff brush is a strong scrub brush that has thick bristles designed to handle tough buildup and debris. Because of this, a stiff brush can easily sweep away the dry and powdery efflorescence.
Chemical Cleaning
If the salt deposits are extremely tough and have been present for a long period of time then you may need chemical cleaning. However, this method is impure, unpredictable in strength and often labor intensive.
Pressure Washing
The most effective way to remove efflorescence is with pressure washing. Our team at Shane’s Pristine Power Wash has tons of experience when it comes to efflorescence removal. We make sure to clean your surface without damaging it and work to prevent the salt build up from reoccurring.
If you have efflorescence on your building and need help removing it, we can help! Contact us today for more information!
