Osmosis also may result in spalling, the separation of building material due to hydrostatic pressure. However, it can lead to potential moisture problems that can cause structural damage to building materials. Taking care of building materials before, during and after the construction process can help prevent efflorescence. There are many solutions to prevent efflorescence, including:. Determining this will help you decide how to remedy the situation. Consider the following when efflorescence is detected on a building:.
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. 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:. 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.
This will prevent water from evaporating and passing through the treated area as vapor and soluble salts. Since , Nitterhouse Masonry Products has served as a family-owned and operated company that supplies superior building products and support. Contact us today to find out how we can fulfill your building product needs. Call Us Now Online Store.
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.
What Causes Efflorescence? 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. This makes the salts crystallize, which results in efflorescence. Some common examples of this include: Using through-wall flashings incorrectly. Failing to provide sufficient ventilation for masonry. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site.
Ahhh, springtime in Chicago. The snow has melted, the sun is shining, the Cubbies have started another season, the flowers are blooming and love is in the air.
It is an accumulation of minerals and salts on masonry surfaces, such as brick, cement, and sometimes stone. Building inspectors and home owners should know how to prevent and remove this unsightly residue. They must also be aware that, while efflorescence in itself is not a problem, it is a symptom of a problem, namely the presence of excess water in the masonry, which can lead to more serious structural and health issues.
As an inspector, I regularly go up into the attics of houses. During the summer, it is not unusual for the temperature in these attics to run around — F. Long story short, I sweat alot because of this. I wear a cap below to keep insulation out of my hair, bit it also acts to absorb the sweat from my forehead and keep it out of my eyes. This sweat which is just salt water is wicked up the cotton fabric of the hat and the water evaporates. As it does, it leaves the salt behind, creating white stains on the cap.
This is the human form of efflorescence. Like humans, all masonry building materials brick, cement, stone, stucco, mortar contain natural salts mostly, sodium and calcium chloride. These salts remain trapped within masonry in solid form until they are dissolved. When dissolved in water, they make their way out of the material through small pores in the masonry.
I cleaned my patio and used poly sand and acrylic sealer, pavers turned white in shaded area of patio. Tried to get rid of white using xylene and did not work, some turned whiter.
I tried everything on my backyard brick paving. Then I remembered that engine oil dripping from the car permanently darkens brick paving. Painted my paving with engine oil and got the original colour of the bricks back. It absorbed immediately. Not affected by rain so far. Not sure what the long term will bring but looks good. I have the same problem please and i urgently need to overcome it.
Please if there is a solution then kindly waiting for it. I had an area of Redbrick wall which had been discoloured — I therefore Pressure washed it. The discolouration has gone but the pressure washed area is now white. How to remove the white? I tried to use vinegar to spray on the red bricks But it can not working,the white deposit still there. Ugh, I used muriatic acid on a 93 degree day and I think I burned my red bricks , they are sooo white.
What do I do now, stain the brick? My bricks on a project are doing the same thing. The actual problem of efflorescence, has been around for a very long time and engineers and academics have been studying the issue for many years.
The studies all seem to agree that efflorescence originates from more than one source, and may be made up of more than one or two compounds. Other salts such as chlorides and nitrates, and salts of vanadium, chromium and molybdenum are referred to in studies without giving the specific composition. Vanadium is said to produce a green coloured efflorescence on white or buff clay bricks, while other salts produce white or greyish deposits. There are many sources for water soluble salts with some of these salts being more soluble than others.
The movement of groundwater into the foundations of buildings and by capillary action into brickwork is very often the cause of efflorescence. Where soil conditions give evidence of water soluble sulfates, precautions should be taken to limit the passage of this water to the brickwork. Low water absorption is by far the best way to combat efflorescence. Carefully graded aggregates, a low water to cement ratio and good compaction and proper curing practices will produce a brick of a good density and with a low water absorption rate.
Here at ET Clay Products, we strive to offer our customers a vast choice of quality bricks for every type of construction project. Even raw materials such as sand and gravel may have been in contact with salt bearing water or soil, this can in turn transfer the salt to the finished brick product. It should be noted that these salts are not removed by a quick wash and therefore, this can be a possible, if not probable source for efflorescence.
Most good quality aggregate plants in the United Kingdom are pretty careful about thoroughly washing their aggregate material so that any contribution made to efflorescence from their raw product is negligible. Another potential source of soluble salts are clay products, such as house building bricks and facing bricks. Although a modern manufacturer such as ET Clay Products, ensure that the highly soluble salts are washed from the clay, and a barium salt such as barium carbonate is added to the clay product, to react with any calcium sulfate that remains.
We know that when produced in this manner, our clay products show very little sign of efflorescence. It is also a good idea to store the finished bricks wrapped and off the ground to prevent absorption of moisture.
It has also been noted that the occurrence of efflorescence bears a relationship to the type of mortar used. With a particular type of brick and a certain mortar no efflorescence may occur, whereas, the same brick with different mortar may produce a wall heavily coated with white salt deposits.
The appearances of sodium and potassium salts usually suggest Portland cement mortar as the origin. The use of low alkali cement in mortar and grout will help to keep efflorescence to a minimum, at least from this source. Keep in mind that bricks and any other building materials that are in direct contact with the earth are potential sources for water soluble salts.
This fact has been noticed by many manufacturers of building materials, and steps have been taken to reduce their presence as much as possible. One method is to use water under pressure or one of a number of products available from stone dealers; another is muriatic acid followed by copious flushing with clean water. Acid applied to brick masonry, without previous wetting, may cause discoloration of the brick and may also eat into the mortar itself.
Another method frequently used is the light sandblasting of the brick for removal of stubborn efflorescence. Allowing the surface of the brick to dry thoroughly and then using a stiff brush, prior to flushing with water, has helped prevent repenetration of the brick surface by the salt.
Various methods have been used in attempts to remove efflorescence from brick buildings. It has been found that when efflorescence is caused by soluble alkali salts, the salts will dissolve in water applied to the structure and migrate back into it. These salts would then reappear on the surface as the structure redried. It is now accepted that the best way to remove these soluble salts was to brush the surface thoroughly with a stiff brush. Water, however, has been satisfactory for removing efflorescence from the face of brick buildings.
In fact, efflorescence has frequently been washed from the surface of brick buildings, if exposed to rain, over some period of time. If the coating is largely calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate, it adheres rather strongly and is difficult to remove by brushing alone. The practice developed in this case for brick and other masonry surfaces, has been to saturate the structure as thoroughly as possible with water, and then wash with diluted muriatic acid, followed immediately with an alkaline wash, then washed with water.
The acid recommended is five parts hydrochloric to one hundred parts water, or twenty parts vinegar to one hundred parts water. The alkaline wash recommended is diluted household ammonia. A great deal of care must be taken in applying acid to Portland cement products. The acid will attack, not only the calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate efflorescence, but also other calcium compounds to produce calcium salts such as calcium chloride. It is, therefore, very important to neutralise the acid before it can attack other compounds.
So if you would like to know more about efflorecence and how to avoid it, why not give us a call at ET Clay Products. At ET Clay Products we have years of experience relating to all aspects of brick supply and usage.
We have created a list of articles which we hope will be of use to our clients and the general public.
0コメント