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What Is Efflorescence?

Danica A • Aug 01, 2021
Efflorescence is a crystalline or powdery deposit of salts often visible on the surface of concrete, brick, stucco, or natural stone surfaces. It occurs when water leaves behind salt deposits on the masonry surface.

The word efflorescence means "to flower out" in French, but this flowering leaves an unattractive residue behind. It sparkles; it's white, sometimes with a grayish tint; and flakes off the masonry surface. Learn what causes this unsightly occurrence and how to prevent or remove it.

What Is Efflorescence?

You can easily recognize efflorescence on walls, floors, retaining walls, and other surfaces made of brick, stone, concrete, or stucco. It's often a white, powdery substance when seen on unsealed surfaces.

If a floor or other concrete surface has been sealed, you may see efflorescence as a white blush under the sealer. This can be especially concerning for homeowners who have sealed concrete floors.

If you're a homebuyer, a real estate home inspection would reveal whether your soon-to-be home has efflorescence. Some astute real estate agents might note efflorescence in the home, most likely to be prevalent on basement walls. Wet basements, especially, are the perfect environment in which efflorescence can grow.

Note: Efflorescence is composed of a variety of water-soluble salts. Different surfaces and different areas of the country are more likely to have particular combinations, which lead to a variety of colors.

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How Does Efflorescence Happen?


For efflorescence to occur, you need water and salt. The salt comes from a range of sources. First, it may already be present inside the brick, stone, or concrete. Or the source may be the grout or cement holding surfaces together. If the surface, such as a retaining wall, is in contact with soil, efflorescence could form. Finally, in areas with hard water, it could be present in the water itself.


The salt must be dissolved in water and transported to the surface of the masonry, stone, or concrete. The water may already be present in the surface itself. It could also come in from outside of the surface and dissolve the salts. Once this occurs, if the water can find a path to the surface and evaporate, it will leave behind crystallized deposits.


How Can You Control or Remove Efflorescence?


There are several construction techniques that can minimize the growth of efflorescence, such as controlling the amount of water used in mortar and grout, designing with eaves and copings to direct water away from surfaces, and paying attention to landscaping and irrigation. Sound construction practices will prevent water from wicking from the ground into masonry structures.


The best way to remove efflorescence depends on the surface and the composition of the salts. One method is to use a dry brush. For some salts, you can simply wash them away with a hand brush, mild detergent, and a water rinse. Power washing is another option, depending on the surface. You may want to consult with a contractor to see if there is a recommended chemical cleaning agent for your surface and get instructions on how to use it safely. For example, a weak solution of muriatic acid might be safe for some surfaces, but it could damage others.


In general, cleaning efflorescence from a surface is an ongoing solution—much like a treatment—rather than a cure. Sealing a surface might be a solution, but if water still finds its way into the surface, you could end up with cracking or spalling, which is a destructive process that should be avoided. Likewise, if you power wash or sandblast a surface incorrectly, you could increase the porousness of the masonry, letting more moisture in and compromising its integrity. Be sure you consult a professional about how to treat your efflorescence problem.

What does sale pending mean?

By Danica A • 01 May, 2022
You’ve spent months searching for the perfect home, and you think you may have finally found it. But when you hop online to do some additional research, the home’s status is listed as “sale pending.” Are you entirely out of luck? It doesn’t say “sold,” after all. Find out more about what “pending” means on a house for sale, and what your options are if you’re interested in it. What does sale pending mean in real estate? A pending sale in real estate simply means that the seller has received and accepted an offer on their home. However, the deal is not yet finalized — hence “pending” and not simply “sold.” If you’re interested in a pending property, your agent should consult with the seller’s agent to learn more about the status. You may still have a chance, though it is likely slim. Can you make an offer on a house that is pending? In short, yes. But it may not be worthwhile. A pending deal is not set in stone, but it’s not exactly open for discussion either. Unless the pending deal falls through, you can’t simply win over the seller by offering more money or waiving certain contingencies. In fact, most sellers are contractually obligated to honor the current offer, even if a higher bid comes in. Still, if you’re really interested in the home and counting on the current deal to fall through, you do have the option to submit a backup offer. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent for advice on the best way to move forward in this situation. Reasons a pending sale may come back on the market It is possible, if not likely, for a pending sale to come back on the market. There are many reasons why this could happen: Below are some common reasons why real estate purchase transactions sometimes fall through.

4 Signs That It’s a Good Time to Sell Your Home

By Danica A • 01 Apr, 2022
You might already know for a fact that you’re ready for a new home. But before you pull the trigger on selling your current home, you want to know that you’ll get top dollar and be financially secure for the long haul. Here are four signs that there’s no time like the present to put your home on the market. 1. You Don’t Need Any Big Repairs or Remodeling Sure, upgrading a bathroom sink might make you feel better about what potential buyers see when touring your home. But don’t sweat the small stuff. You aren’t likely to recoup the expenses you put into most home improvement projects, much less turn a profit . The important thing is that your home doesn’t need some type of major overhaul that sends buyers running for the hills – something like a leaky roof or cracked foundation. Barring any such severe flaws, just double check with your real estate agent to make sure there aren’t any renovations that would significantly raise your home’s value. If there aren’t, then you should consider your home ready to hit the market. 2. You Have Positive Equity to Avoid Out-of-Pocket Costs Equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe on it. Say your home is worth $100,000. If you only owe $50,000 to pay off your mortgage, that means you have $50,000 in positive equity. Ideally, you’d like to have enough equity to cover closing costs and put some money down on your next home. At a minimum, you want to have enough to cover the current balance of your mortgage, so you can avoid paying out of pocket. As long as you have even a small amount of positive equity, that’s a positive sign that you’re ready to transition to a new home.

Foolproof Paint Colors That Will Sell Your Home

By Danica A • 01 Feb, 2022
Selling a home with an electric, lime-green living room is going to be more difficult than you originally anticipated. In fact, your home might sit stagnant on the market for quite some time. The reality is that paint color packs a serious punch in the real estate game. So, which colors are going to sell your home? A home remodeling guide and contractor liaison website, surveyed 200 leading interior design experts and influencers to uncover the upcoming paint trends for owners to keep in mind before selling their home. We’re armed with Fixr's Paint & Color Trends Report and ready to dish on the hues to use and hues to lose before putting your house on the market. (Hint: Lime green didn’t make the list.) The Kitchen: White or Warm Gray Design pros believe that warm gray or classic white tones are best for painting interior rooms like the kitchen. Some of our favorite white and warm gray paint colors to check out for your kitchen include Revere Pewter and Simply White by Benjamin Moore or Pure White and Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. The Living Room: White When in doubt, white it out. Surveyed pros believe white paint will sell your home because not only does it provide future buyers with a blank slate, but it gives living rooms a fresh, well-kept appearance that appeals to the masses. Our tried-and-true white paint colors include Snowbound or Greek Villa from Sherwin Williams or White Dove and Chantilly Lace from Benjamin Moore.
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