Efflorescence On Basement Walls
Efflorescence on walls is a sign of excessive water in your basement.
Efflorescence on basement walls. The white fuzzy stuff you see along the inside and outside of your basement wall is efflorescence. The masonry used to build basement walls and floors contains natural minerals like clay and limestone. Cover the floor and furniture in the basement with plastic sheeting. Fill a bucket with warm water.
To deal with it you have to first identify the source of water leakage. Efflorescence forms on basement walls and floors because moisture is traveling through them and is carrying dissolved minerals to the surface. Efflorescence is a white powdery film or dusty residue that shows up on masonry surfaces on the inside or outside of a house. How to remove efflorescence from basement walls step 1.
It s usually found on the concrete blocks in basements but can be found many other places. Use a large sponge to thoroughly wet down the efflorescence spots on the walls. Efflorescence is simply salt and can be easily removed with efflorescence removers and other cleaning techniques. Brick and cement are porous so some moisture is naturally moving through them at all times unless special sealants are applied.
Don t worry this annoying build up isn t hazardous. The next step should be waterproofing to permanently deal with the problem. Efflorescence is a common problem in concrete and masonry block foundations.