| Efflorescence is a white, powdery
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| | products. Acid washing with diluted
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| substance that appears on the surface of
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| | muriatic acid should only be used as a
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| concrete, masonry, and stucco products.
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| | last resort because it will etch away
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| It's a very common occurrence and,
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| | some of the cementitious material on the
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| although it's usually harmless,
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| | surface. Muriatic acid should be diluted
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| efflorescence can be a real eyesore. It
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| | to1 part acid and 12 parts water. The
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| goes unnoticeable on plain, gray concrete
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| | surface then needs to be neutralized with
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| and block but becomes very visible on
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| | a solution of baking soda or diluted
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| colored concrete and brick. Normally, the
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| | household ammonia. This will stop the
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| problem doesn't show up until weeks or
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| | acid from attacking the material any
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| months after installation and often
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| | further.
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| becomes a dispute between angry customers
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| | Preventing Efflorescence
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| and contractors.
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| | When it comes to concrete, there are a
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| Efflorescence is caused by water moving
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| | few steps that can be taken to limit or
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| through concrete and masonry products. As
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| | prevent efflorescence. Proper drainage
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| it travels through in a process called
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| | away from a slab will help reduce
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| capillary action, the water dissolves
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| | moisture moving up from the subgrade.
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| salts contained in the material. When the
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| | This also includes eliminating any
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| water reaches the outside, it evaporates
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| | unnecessary sources of water such as
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| and leaves the salts on the surface.
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| | downspouts that dump water underneath a
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| Overtime the buildup of the salty
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| | slab.
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| deposits can become quite significant.
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| | Concrete sealers can also prevent
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| Lower temperatures, humidity, rain, or
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| | efflorescence from reoccurring. Although
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| anything that will keep the material wet
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| | regular film forming sealers will stop
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| such as sprinklers facilitates this
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| | water from seeping down into the pores,
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| process.
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| | they still allow moisture from the
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| Despite efforts of manufacturers and
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| | sub-grade to pass through. This can
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| contractors to limit efflorescence in
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| | create and trap efflorescence between the
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| their products, they are using raw earth
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| | sealer and the concrete. Penetrating
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| materials that contain salt and will vary
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| | sealers are the best defense against
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| in salt content from batch to batch and
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| | efflorescence. These silicone-based
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| from one location to another.
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| | sealers work by penetrating the surface
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| Removing Efflorescence
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| | and reacting with free lime to form
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| Most efflorescence can be removed by
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| | calcium silicate. It's like filling the
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| pressure washing with water or scrubbing
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| | capillaries and pores with cement to
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| with water and a brush. The water will
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| | block the migration of water. If the
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| dissolve most of the salts but must be
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| | water can't get to the surface, then
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| rinsed away completely. Tougher deposits
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| | salts can't be left behind.
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| can be removed with special cleaning
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