Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

Arfa

On 2 Mar, 14:22, "Arfa Daily" wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

Arfa

Pretty common and not just with new bricks

Chris

wrote in message
...
On 2 Mar, 14:22, "Arfa Daily" wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals
had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I
think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going
on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many
of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home,
I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3
years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone
has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what
is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

Arfa

Pretty common and not just with new bricks

Chris

Oh yes. I've seen it many times, but primarily on new bricks, and am well
aware of what it basically is. Just that I don't recall ever having seen it
'appear' suddenly, in the sorts of quantities that I am talking about, on
old(er) walls. Hence why I asked if anyone else had seen it like this in
their area.

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:

Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

Arfa

As a guess I'd be thinking that efflorescence on brickwork is normal.
It's effects haven't been seen until recently as the acid rains
effectively dissolved it. Clean up the power stations and all we are
left with is efflorescence and sodding green mould and lichen
growing on every external surface.
Bring back the acid rain!.

wrote in message
...


Arfa Daily wrote:

Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals
had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I
think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going
on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many
of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home,
I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3
years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone
has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what
is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

Arfa

As a guess I'd be thinking that efflorescence on brickwork is normal.
It's effects haven't been seen until recently as the acid rains
effectively dissolved it. Clean up the power stations and all we are
left with is efflorescence and sodding green mould and lichen
growing on every external surface.
Bring back the acid rain!.

This is not just 'recent' - it is sudden. And the amounts are very
significant. It literally looks as though someone has tried to whitewash
these walls. I take your point about the acid rain, and the way it kept
chemical surface blooms and botanical growths at bay, but in reality, we
haven't really had rain at that level of acidity for some years now, so I
don't think that this sudden appearance of efflorescense can be attributed
to that. Puzzling. Has anyone else actually noticed any of the same in their
area ?

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought that vandals had
'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in
pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I think
that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its height,
which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years
back, has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has
taken a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what is
different about this year that has started this happening ? I had thought
that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not ?

When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured brick-shaped
lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite a bloom when the
weather cleared up after a long period of heavy rain.

"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing
before. One wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems
to have so much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought
that vandals had 'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+
years old, in pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match
the houses. I think that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least
part of its height, which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue
as to what was going on, but the more I looked, the more walls I found
that were suffering, many of which are just free standing boundary walls.
As I pulled back up at home, I noticed that the low wall with pillars
that my neighbour had built 3 years back, has become likewise afflicted.
It looks almost as though someone has taken a brushful of whitewash to
it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what
is different about this year that has started this happening ? I had
thought that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not
?

When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured brick-shaped
lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite a bloom when the
weather cleared up after a long period of heavy rain.

Well, when I say "bricks", I mean "bricks" really. Sort of 'brick-shaped'
baked lumps of clay with "LBC" stamped into the frogs. The sort of thing
that a brick wall or brick house might be built of. Nothing to do with
concrete, afaik ... ??

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing
before. One wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems
to have so much white deposit on its surface, that at first I thought
that vandals had 'treated' it to a paint job. This particular wall is 20+
years old, in pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type brick to match
the houses. I think that it probably forms a retaining wall for at least
part of its height, which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue
as to what was going on, but the more I looked, the more walls I found
that were suffering, many of which are just free standing boundary walls.
As I pulled back up at home, I noticed that the low wall with pillars
that my neighbour had built 3 years back, has become likewise afflicted.
It looks almost as though someone has taken a brushful of whitewash to
it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what
is different about this year that has started this happening ? I had
thought that this effect only happened on new bricks, but apparently not
?
When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured brick-shaped
lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite a bloom when the
weather cleared up after a long period of heavy rain.

Well, when I say "bricks", I mean "bricks" really. Sort of 'brick-shaped'
baked lumps of clay with "LBC" stamped into the frogs. The sort of thing
that a brick wall or brick house might be built of. Nothing to do with
concrete, afaik ... ??

OK, I stand corrected. In these parts (NZ) most so-called bricks are
not fired clay these days. I haven't seen efflorescence from real
bricks - clearly my experience is limited.

"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing
before. One wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall,
seems to have so much white deposit on its surface, that at first I
thought that vandals had 'treated' it to a paint job. This particular
wall is 20+ years old, in pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type
brick to match the houses. I think that it probably forms a retaining
wall for at least part of its height, which I thought at first might
give a bit of a clue as to what was going on, but the more I looked,
the more walls I found that were suffering, many of which are just free
standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I noticed that
the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years back, has
become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has taken
a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to
what is different about this year that has started this happening ? I
had thought that this effect only happened on new bricks, but
apparently not ?
When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured brick-shaped
lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite a bloom when the
weather cleared up after a long period of heavy rain.

Well, when I say "bricks", I mean "bricks" really. Sort of 'brick-shaped'
baked lumps of clay with "LBC" stamped into the frogs. The sort of thing
that a brick wall or brick house might be built of. Nothing to do with
concrete, afaik ... ??

OK, I stand corrected. In these parts (NZ) most so-called bricks are not
fired clay these days. I haven't seen efflorescence from real bricks -
clearly my experience is limited.

Ah ... NZ ! Sorry if my previous reply sounded a bit ****y - it wasn't
really intended to. Just a bit tongue in cheek really. Don't normally expect
to get Kiwis on a UK group ! (I hope 'Kiwi' isn't seen as one of those
'racist' things down your end of the world ... ;~} )

Anyways, I took a walk this morning and noticed a *lot* of efflorescence on
house brick courses below the dpc, so I guess that there's got to be
something to it being caused by damp rising up in the bricks, which of
course would not be restricted in the case of a garden wall, there not being
any dpc. I suppose that we have had quite a wet winter, so I guess that the
ground is probably pretty damp. So the other question now, would be, is the
white deposit something which is being driven out of the bricks by the water
rising up through them and evaporating off the face, or is it something that
is in solution in the water, that is then left behind as it evaporates ?
With one of the walls that is particularly badly affected being at least 20
years old, I would have thought that anything actually in the structure of
the brick, would have been long since driven out. Curious ...

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing
before. One wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall,
seems to have so much white deposit on its surface, that at first I
thought that vandals had 'treated' it to a paint job. This particular
wall is 20+ years old, in pretty standard looking Golden Fleck type
brick to match the houses. I think that it probably forms a retaining
wall for at least part of its height, which I thought at first might
give a bit of a clue as to what was going on, but the more I looked,
the more walls I found that were suffering, many of which are just free
standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I noticed that
the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years back, has
become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone has taken
a brushful of whitewash to it.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to
what is different about this year that has started this happening ? I
had thought that this effect only happened on new bricks, but
apparently not ?
When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured brick-shaped
lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite a bloom when the
weather cleared up after a long period of heavy rain.
Well, when I say "bricks", I mean "bricks" really. Sort of 'brick-shaped'
baked lumps of clay with "LBC" stamped into the frogs. The sort of thing
that a brick wall or brick house might be built of. Nothing to do with
concrete, afaik ... ??
OK, I stand corrected. In these parts (NZ) most so-called bricks are not
fired clay these days. I haven't seen efflorescence from real bricks -
clearly my experience is limited.

Ah ... NZ ! Sorry if my previous reply sounded a bit ****y - it wasn't
really intended to. Just a bit tongue in cheek really. Don't normally expect
to get Kiwis on a UK group ! (I hope 'Kiwi' isn't seen as one of those
'racist' things down your end of the world ... ;~} )

Not racist ... but a kiwi is a shy, nondescript, flightless bird that
only ventures out at night, and has a long beak that it is always
sticking into everything. ;-)


Anyways, I took a walk this morning and noticed a *lot* of efflorescence on
house brick courses below the dpc, so I guess that there's got to be
something to it being caused by damp rising up in the bricks, which of
course would not be restricted in the case of a garden wall, there not being
any dpc. I suppose that we have had quite a wet winter, so I guess that the
ground is probably pretty damp. So the other question now, would be, is the
white deposit something which is being driven out of the bricks by the water
rising up through them and evaporating off the face, or is it something that
is in solution in the water, that is then left behind as it evaporates ?
With one of the walls that is particularly badly affected being at least 20
years old, I would have thought that anything actually in the structure of
the brick, would have been long since driven out. Curious ...

"Efflorescence is a white crystalline or powdery, often fluffy/fuzzy
deposit on the surface of masonry materials like concrete, brick, clay
tile, etc. It's caused by water seeping through the wall/floor/object.
The water dissolves salts inside the object while moving through it,
then evaporates leaving the salt on the surface."

I hadn't realized that salts could be dissolved out of brick, thinking
that the firing would lock them in. Perhaps it's a question of type of
brick and firing temperature.

Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
"Gib Bogle" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a
huge amount of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember
seeing before. One wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7
feet tall, seems to have so much white deposit on its surface,
that at first I thought that vandals had 'treated' it to a paint
job. This particular wall is 20+ years old, in pretty standard
looking Golden Fleck type brick to match the houses. I think that
it probably forms a retaining wall for at least part of its
height, which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to
what was going on, but the more I looked, the more walls I found
that were suffering, many of which are just free standing
boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home, I noticed that the
low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years back,
has become likewise afflicted. It looks almost as though someone
has taken a brushful of whitewash to it. So, has anyone else noticed
this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as
to what is different about this year that has started this
happening ? I had thought that this effect only happened on new
bricks, but apparently not ?
When you say "bricks", I presume you mean those coloured
brick-shaped lumps of concrete. Those on our house produced quite
a bloom when the weather cleared up after a long period of heavy
rain.

Well, when I say "bricks", I mean "bricks" really. Sort of
'brick-shaped' baked lumps of clay with "LBC" stamped into the
frogs. The sort of thing that a brick wall or brick house might be
built of. Nothing to do with concrete, afaik ... ??

OK, I stand corrected. In these parts (NZ) most so-called bricks
are not fired clay these days. I haven't seen efflorescence from
real bricks - clearly my experience is limited.

Ah ... NZ ! Sorry if my previous reply sounded a bit ****y - it wasn't
really intended to. Just a bit tongue in cheek really. Don't normally
expect to get Kiwis on a UK group ! (I hope 'Kiwi' isn't seen as one
of those 'racist' things down your end of the world ... ;~} )

Anyways, I took a walk this morning and noticed a *lot* of
efflorescence on house brick courses below the dpc, so I guess that
there's got to be something to it being caused by damp rising up in
the bricks, which of course would not be restricted in the case of a
garden wall, there not being any dpc. I suppose that we have had
quite a wet winter, so I guess that the ground is probably pretty
damp. So the other question now, would be, is the white deposit
something which is being driven out of the bricks by the water rising
up through them and evaporating off the face, or is it something that
is in solution in the water, that is then left behind as it
evaporates ? With one of the walls that is particularly badly
affected being at least 20 years old, I would have thought that
anything actually in the structure of the brick, would have been long
since driven out. Curious ...

Yes, this backend of the winter has been quite wet and the watertable will
be high which will cause moisture to rise within the brickwork. Your
comments about garden walls not having DPCs has made me ponder a bit. If we
are talking freestanding agrden walls not supporting earth behind then most
walls that I have seen usually have at least a course of engineering brick,
if not two or in some cases a plastic DPC. I know of two from personal
practical input.

When it comes to a retaining wall, I built one in a former property 30 years
ago where I built a cavity wall with a DPC to both leaves and a plastic
membrane against the earth with a plastic DPC below the capping stones. I
last saw that wall circa 15 years ago when visiting a former neighbour and
it was fine. Spending an idle moment recently, I looked on Google Earth and
it would appear that the wall is still standing. If not, then the footings I
put in were reused!

I often wonder about efflorescence. Fortunately my house suffers from none
though others in the road do. Some high up in the structure for many years
which is presumably due to bricks being stacked in water or very wet ground
before construction. Even with rain hitting the external surface of the
brick to an extent allowing salts to be washed down the wall and also
efflorescence to be weathered off by wind gradually, it will (I will avoid
the frequently used spelling here) surely take decades for absorbed salts to
be leached and weathered out?

Despite the gradual process, spalling will occur. I was very fortunate to be
aware of the potential, inspect the construction of my then new build and to
be vigilant immediately after completion. I found several bridges of the
cavity from both signs inside and out which I got the builders to resolve.

You've heightened my concern, dare I venture out after having hibernating
this winter?

Arfa Daily wrote:
..with "LBC" stamped into the frogs.

That's the sort of Euro spirit we need in these troubled times.

Stamp into the Frogs, I say.

Arfa

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
..with "LBC" stamped into the frogs.

That's the sort of Euro spirit we need in these troubled times.

Stamp into the Frogs, I say.

Arfa

LOL !! I don't know about stamping "LBC" into the frogs, how about "CFL" ?

Arfa

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:22:28 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
wrote:

Driving around the village over the last few days, I have seen a huge
amount
of efflorescence on walls, that I don't ever remember seeing before. One
wall, that must be a hundred feet long and 7 feet tall, seems to have so
much white deposit on its surface,

which I thought at first might give a bit of a clue as to what was going
on,
but the more I looked, the more walls I found that were suffering, many of
which are just free standing boundary walls. As I pulled back up at home,
I
noticed that the low wall with pillars that my neighbour had built 3 years
back, has become likewise afflicted.

So, has anyone else noticed this ? Anyone venture a suggestion as to what
is
different about this year that has started this happening ?
Arfa


Are these various walls alongside roads? just wondering if it could be
Salt laid down in the cold snap a few weeks back that has been sprayed
up onto the walls. I don't think there has been much rain recently to
wash it off a lot surfaces.

G.harman

Well, yes, these are walls close to roads, but a salt / gritting truck never
came as much as 'close' to our village during all of the recent snow woes,
so I am reluctant to believe that it is road-salt related.

Arfa