Efflorescence Basement Floor

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.

Efflorescence basement floor.

In cases where moisture bubbles up from your basement floor it may even resemble a white foam on your floors. Don t worry this annoying build up isn t hazardous. Efflorescence is defined as the loss of water of crystallization from a hydrated salt into the atmosphere upon exposure to air. Efflorescence is caused by vapor migrating through the slab bringing soluble salts to the surface of the concrete.

Time is often the best cure for efflorescence. It s also commonly found on floors. Efflorescence is the white powdery substance on the surfaces of unsealed concrete and the white blush seen with sealed floors. Some surfaces and mostly stained concrete will be more susceptible to the reaction than others.

It will generally look like a white powdery substance. Efflorescence can look similar to mold but when touched the crystals crumble into a fine powder. The white fuzzy stuff you see along the inside and outside of your basement wall is efflorescence. Efflorescence is often described as dissolvable salts in moisture that are transported through porous materials such as concrete brick block and stone through capillary action.

Efflorescence is a white powdery film or dusty residue that shows up on masonry surfaces on the inside or outside of a house. Efflorescence is actually a harmless crystallized mineral salt that has formed on your basement walls over time. It s usually found on the concrete blocks in basements but can be found many other places. The efflorescence can be happening when moisture starts to react with concrete causing some white stains in the concrete.

Efflorescence is a common problem in concrete and masonry block foundations. The masonry used to build basement walls and floors contains natural minerals like clay and limestone. These surfaces allow water to travel within the surface. Brick and cement are porous so some moisture is naturally moving through them at all times unless special sealants are applied.

Causes of the efflorescence in concrete. To explain it in simpler terms it s when evaporated salts and other minerals from curing concrete develop into a powder like substance due to high moisture in the air. New building bloom on a brick or stucco wall will usually not reappear if washed away by rain or brushed off by the homeowner. On a slab such as a basement or garage floor or on patio blocks for example wear and foot traffic will eventually remove the discoloration.

Efflorescence is normally worn off or washed away on unsealed concrete surfaces. Efflorescence is simply salt and can be easily removed with efflorescence removers and other cleaning techniques.