what is the white powder residue all over my brick wall at home after it rains?

[rich8888]

[sarah_louise]

yes that happens on new bricks for a year or so. I wonder what it is

[hippyhoppy]

I think it's a salty deposit in the brick's makeup.. I think (again might be wrong) that it's called efflourescence.. mainly found in the cheaper end of the brick spectrum...

[beejay1124]

hipy- cheeky!!!!!!!!
cheaper end of the brick market

[stonekicker]

funny that - i was wondering about it yesterday. there's a new house built on the corner of my road and it peppered with the stuff and looks weird. does it go away then? x

[beejay1124]

http://www.sakrete.co...RemovingEfflorescence

[buildersmate]

You can get rid of it using a chemical such as provided by the link above, or leave it alone when it will disapperar of its own accord in a year or two.
It is particualrly bad this spring because so many brick walls got damper than they would in a normal winter.

[ayabrea38]

My garden wall does this,yet it is over 10 years old.Maybe its something else cos I am sure the white bits go black in the summer-either that or mega cheapo bricks.

[landscaper2]

I've not noticed that it is related to cost of brick. It is definately salt and it is called efflourecnece as mentioned above. I have noticed however, that it seems to be worse this year, anything to do with the higher than normal amount of salt thrown about on our roads this year?

[jackthehat]

It's the 'internal' salts/minerals of the bricks leeching out due to the wet weather. It will disappear of its own accord or there are chemicals, as already indicated, that will speed its disappearance.

[Old_Geezer]

Along my street, quite a number of new brick walls had the brick faces fall off this winter ! Never know see, you get an expert in to build a wall, and the next thing you know it starts deteriorating already.

[jackthehat]

That's caused by frost damage Old_Geezer. Freezing water in the minute spaces of the brickwork causes the face to 'spall-off'. Again, it is down to the make-up of the brick. Often in such positions 'frost-proof' bricks are specified.