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What is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence is the residue that is left behind after water is removed. The residue is mostly salt-based and harmless. Different types occur in the construction industry, including concrete, brick, and masonry. Efflorescence remover typically is available to prevent unsightly build-up on surfaces.
In concrete, efflorescence is caused when the water used to mix the original concrete powder begins to dissolve the salt that naturally occurs in the mixture. As the water evaporates over time, the salt is drawn to the surface of the concrete and leaves the residue behind. Most concrete is gray or white so the residue usually is not as obvious.
Efflorescence on bricks, however, usually is more noticeable because the white powdery residue can stand out against the reddish color of some bricks. The water used to mix the grout that is used between the bricks often is where the residue originates. Grout efflorescence usually can be removed by using a stiff brush with water. If the residue is more pronounced over a larger amount of space, another option can be pressure washing.
Masonry efflorescence is also caused by water evaporation which leaves crystallized salt deposits behind. New construction may not reflect the problem but after several weeks, a new construction bloom may occur as the water makes its way to the surface. Often damp conditions such as ongoing rain or hairline cracks in the masonry can make the occurrence more severe.
Cleaning for severe conditions that are not solved by hand-scrubbing or pressure washing might require chemicals. The most common chemical used to treat the problem is muriatic acid. This treatment usually will wash away the efflorescence, but it also takes off a thin layer of the surface; it typically is used only in extreme conditions. The acid is diluted in water then spread on the affected surface. As soon as the residue is eaten away, baking soda or ammonia is spread on the surface to neutralize the acid and prevent erosion.
While total prevention is not possible, measures are often taken to reduce the likelihood and severity of efflorescence. The most common method is to add silicon sealers to concrete and masonry mixtures to seal the surface. This is accomplished when the silicon reacts with the lime in the mix which results in calcium silicate. Calcium silicate acts as a barrier and prevents the water from evaporating at the surface, which in turn prevents the salt residue from being left behind.
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![Efflorescence occurs in concrete when water used to mix concrete powder dissolves naturally-occurring salt.]()
By: vbressEfflorescence occurs in concrete when water used to mix concrete powder dissolves naturally-occurring salt.
Discussion Comments
If you have efflorescence in brick moldings, you could try to paint over it. However, you shouldn’t attempt to do that without first fixing the underlying problems.
If water seepage is the cause of the efflorescence, try to locate and plug up that leak; otherwise any painting over the brick will be very temporary.
We lived in a house once where I attempted to do some grout repair. I will never try that again. I didn’t work in completely dry conditions (I should have read the instructions) and I wound up with white powdery film on the grout as a result.
I didn’t know that it was called efflorescence, only that it was ugly. I talked to a guy at the home improvement store who told me what I had done wrong.
We bought our second house and that needed some grout work done in one of the bathrooms. I knew a little more, but wasn’t going to risk another do it yourself job so I just hired a contractor to do it. There was no discoloration as a result.
@Mammmood - In my opinion, you shouldn’t go for a new driveway simply because of cosmetic blemishes. You said that you needed repair. If most of the cracks and stuff have been filled I would just live with it, unless you start noticing new cracks.
We live in a very hot climate and the driveways tend to crack more easily, but I am staying with mine for now. I may decide to fill in the cracks if they get bigger, and I’ll add some sealant to prevent efflorescence from taking place. But even if did take place, it wouldn’t bother me too much.
My concrete driveway is definitely in need of repair. Apparently the previous owner of the house realized this as well, as there are places where he tried to patch the potholes and cracks with fresh concrete.
I see the places where he’s done that, and in some places it looks okay but in other places there is noticeable discoloration due to efflorescence. I am guessing, based on what I read in this article, that he didn’t add sealant to prevent the discoloration from taking place.
It was definitely a do it yourself job, by all appearances. I am wondering if I should just live with it, or go in for a completely new driveway.
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