Will efflorescence on my new Barrhaven brick fade by itself?
Will efflorescence on my new Barrhaven brick fade by itself?
We found no source that says whether efflorescence on new brick fades by itself, so a mason looking at the wall is the one to say. A National Research Council building digest (CBD-123, 1970) notes that efflorescence "is usually at a peak during the late winter months."
Ask the mason where the water carrying the salts is coming from.
On sealers, CBD-30 notes that a vapour-permeable water-repellent coating on the outer face can cause salts to deposit behind the surface layer, and "the resulting force of crystallization can cause the skin to spall." Ask a mason before applying anything to the wall.
One thing worth keeping in mind: CBD-30 also notes that salt spalling "is very similar in appearance to that produced by frost action, and in many cases it is difficult to determine which mechanism has caused it." If you are seeing any surface flaking alongside the white staining, ask a mason to look at both.
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Masonry IQ -- Built from the Ontario Building Code, Ontario regulations and City of Ottawa sources and real construction experience. Answers are for informational purposes only and are not a professional assessment.
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