| “Efflorescence” is the term
used to describe the migration of water-soluble salts to the surface of
brick, cast stone and other masonry materials. It is a change on the
surface to a powdery substance, upon exposure to air, as a crystalline
substance through loss of water.
When this problem is encountered, it is advantageous to first learn the
mechanics of efflorescence before attempting to remedy the problem.
There is an extensive amount of printed information available on this
subject. One very good source is a technical paper entitled
“Efflorescence: Cause and Control” written by Michael Merrigan, P.E.,
originally published in “The Masonry Society Journal, January-June, 1986.
You can access this material via the Masonry Institute of America.
MASONRY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (MIA)
2550 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Tel: (213) 388-0472
Fax: (213) 388-6958
Web Site: www.masonryinstitute.org |
