Efflorescence creates a white haze containing salts that cause stains on your external masonry surfaces.

Efflorescence On Historic Masonry:

On historic homes, using historic mortar reduces Efflorescence. Historic mortar reduces Efflorescence because the historic mortar allows the water to evaporate through the mortar instead of storing it. When water evaporates from the mortar, moisture is less likely to evaporate from the brick, stone, or block, which lessens the cause of Efflorescence.

With historic homes reducing the result of Efflorescence, the presence of Efflorescence on historic brick, stone, or block homes indicates that water has entered the brick, stone, or block from an entry point. If water has entered the building or structure, you can predict future damage to the historic masonry.

A sign of Efflorescence on your historic masonry usually means water intrusion. Once the water has entered the historic masonry, it can cause future damage during freeze/thaw cycles. The moisture in the walls can freeze, which builds up pressure within the brick, stone, or block. Once this pressure builds up, it may cause the exterior of the brick stone or block to crack, cause movement, spall, or deteriorate.

Causes of Efflorescence:

Water intrusion
Efflorescence found on brick can be from the creation of the brick and the result of the brick curing over time. Efflorescence may come out of the masonry when bricks cure after being made.
External factors include moisture from the ground, salts from salting in the winter, or fertilizers in the spring, summer, or fall.
Pollutants from the air may cause salts to deposit onto masonry surfaces.
Too strong or too much of a chemical or cleaning solution when cleaning masonry surfaces or improper rinsing after cleaning your masonry.

Treatments For Efflorescence:

Water washing
Chemical cleaning
Abrasive cleaning
Poulticing
Replacement of the brick, stone, or block
Repointing.