Efflorescence Tips and Tricks

[askthebuilder]

You should always go to my AsktheBuilder website when you have questions. I have many columns about this topic there. Use my search engine. SPELL EFFLORESCENCE correctly to find them. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter while you're there. FREE tips each week.

[sunshyneshonnisugar]

thank you so much! You just saved me thousands of dollars and a lot of heart ache worrying about white mold.

[californiatilerestoration]

I have been explaining to people for 25 years about efflorescence. That was really well worded so that people get it. Great video Thank you.

[sandy]

I have been dealing with soil moisture seepage through a foundation of a 1943 home, for a couple of months now. I am so glad that I did not get out the bucket and brushes and add more moisture. I am running a fan and a dehumidifier 24 hours and the moisture collection is lessening. Thank you for this video.

[diversitycandle]

Thank god for people like you that take their time and educate others in this fashion. You literally just calmed me down from a panic attack. My basement flooded last week and I am just now starting to see this white substance on my cement floor and cement walls. Instantly thought it was a form of mold that was white in color. After watching your video, I can safely say it is not mold and efflorescence instead. Thank you good sir

[gm]

I have this stuff forming at the top edge of a stainless steel entrance gate that is under a 5 yr old new concrete layer laid on a porch for granite tiles. The efflorescence is thick and hard as stone. Do you have any suggestions for removing without damaging or staining the stainless steel?

[fisherman]

Thanks for the explanation. I have lived in Florida for 6 years and have concrete driveway which is painted grey. There is a low spot about 1 sq. ft. where the paint has failed, so it is bare concrete and water puddles there. Just a few months ago, these white growths started appearing for the first time, and I could swear that it was a living organism of sorts getting started. It behaves like you described. I've tried all kinds of mold/mildew removers which work for a day or two, then it is back with a vengeance....relieved to know that it probably not alive and is harmless.

[junereed]

Thanks Tim. I was nervous about my basement wall and was going to wash it. Now I will brush it off and vacuum. Good video!

[freetobe]

My parents house, built 17 years ago, all concrete. It has that stuff growing like crazy on certain sides of the house, usually under the Windows and close to the ground.

Thanks for clearing it up.

[Javii]

At first when I saw efflorescence on my garage floor, I thought it was salt. So I brushed it away. But it kept coming back and I found it to grow to half inch easily, I became convinced it was fungus! Glad to know I can put it on my food safely. Thanks

[zappy]

After mopping the surface a billion times Ive finally realised that sweeping is a much better solution though I did find that the salt damaged the top of the concrete if left for too long.

Have applied densi crete and will see how that goes. Thanks for the advice.

[susanclarkva]

Thank you
I painted my concrete floor in a commercial space for a salon I am in the process of opening. I went back the next day and the efflorescence was in several places. I didn’t know what it was or what to do. I wiped it off with a wet mop, smh but now I know to just sweep it away. Thank you for your video.

[njwags]

100yo house without any foundation sealing/barriors, what’s the best approach? I’ve tried drylok on the inside but a year or two it’s forming behind it.

[uptalk]

Efflorescence comes from the pressure of water against a surface. That pressure slowly pushes water through the concrete collecting salts as it passes through. Once at the surface, the water evaporates and leaves the salts behind.

[daryl]

Great video, what is the best way to seal the concrete surface so this doesnt continue?

[toofypeg]

Thanks so much for the info! You sir are a legend! Much love from the U.K. 👍🏻

[jasonmurillo]

Thanks, Tim! We just spent thousands pavers for the patio/pool deck. Looked great for the first 2-3 weeks and then the haze came. I asked about it, assuming it was concrete dust from the pool remodel but all this finger pointing started happening. Everybody is trying to figure it out and fix my issue (or make me go away - lol). Your explanation makes perfect sense. So thank you!

One question though...we have this beautiful new pool and paver patio and I’d hate to have to wait a year to naturally make this go away. Should we endure the cloudy look? Or best the wait a year then clean and seal? I’m finding efflorescence cleaners online, but questioning if we should do that and seal now - or wait it out. Let me know your thoughts, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!

[benniebella]

Thank you very much for this I have it right against my patio cement and my stucco wall in my small patio and someone told me it was mold and I was going to pour bleach on it but now that you told me this I'll just go sweep it thank you so much for the information

[bekahblay]

thank you! The salt water that drips from our wetsuits must be causing this to grow in the cracks in our garage floor. i thought it was mold, but i am so glad i found your video.

[thequeryqueen]

Thankyou for this information. Before seeing this I thought it was some kind of mold on my tiles.