Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

[brickie in oz]

Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.
This brickwork is about 2 weeks old, we left the job because the second delivery of bricks were way different to the first delivery.

When we got back today the bricks were all furry, I tasted it and yep, its salt.

The water on the job smells like a swimming pool so the salt is probably from that.
The water is so bad that I have to take water from home to boil the kettle for a cuppa.

[GianniFocaccia]

Re: Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

So may I ask: what is the remedy for efflorescence like this?

[brickie in oz]

Re: Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

Its usually just a hose off with water job, you may have to do it a few times though.

There may be some propriety products on the market that seal the salt in, but I think Id like it out rather than in.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

Wikipedia.

Its the Chlorides in the water, I thought it was, anyway its the builders problem to figure out the fix.

[Nic The Landscaper]

Re: Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

Vinegar will help soften the effy up so it can be scrubbed off. Effy also comes from lime used in the mortar, but I can tell from the pic in this case it's not the mortar, yet.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Nice example of efflorescence on brickwork.

I wouldnt waste vinegar on it, it will just hose off with water.

Never heard of lime causing it, maybe after 100 or more years when the lime leaches out, but not on a new build?

These houses wont last 100 years, the frame is built to fail after 30 or 40 years.