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Exterior Inspections Contains discussions about the exterior portion of a home inspection. This includes roofs, gutters, downspouts, decks, patios, windows, etc.

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  #1  
Old 3/23/09, 10:54 AM
John A. Reim John A. Reim is offline
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Default White stuff?

Hey kids,

One of my realtors sent me this photo and want's to know what the white stuff is on the brick exterior. I have two guesses, but want to see what you all think.

Thanks,

John Reim
Bee Sure Home Inspection Svcs.

white-stuff-building-crud.jpg
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  #2  
Old 3/23/09, 11:28 AM
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Jeffrey R. Jonas Jeffrey R. Jonas is online now
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Default Re: White stuff?

Looks like a pretty serious moisture/Efflorescence problem to me, but I am a few hundred miles away.
Jeff
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  #3  
Old 3/23/09, 11:40 AM
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James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

that's what it looks like from ohio also...



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  #4  
Old 3/23/09, 11:50 AM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

How old is the brick?

I have seen this quite often on new construction before the brick is cleaned.



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Old 3/23/09, 12:06 PM
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James H. Bushart James H. Bushart is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

Looks like the kids on each floor clean the chalkboard erasers the same way I did in the third grade until I got caught.



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  #6  
Old 3/23/09, 5:24 PM
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Gerry Pallotta Gerry Pallotta is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

Wow.
I agree with Jeffrey
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  #7  
Old 3/24/09, 1:56 PM
John A. Reim John A. Reim is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

The brick in this case is newer construction. Realtor says he sees it a lot on construction less than 3 years old. My thought was effloresence as well.

Michael, you say you see this on new brick that has not been cleaned? So you think it is dirt or what?
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  #8  
Old 3/24/09, 3:21 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jreim View Post
The brick in this case is newer construction. Realtor says he sees it a lot on construction less than 3 years old. My thought was efflorescence as well.

Michael, you say you see this on new brick that has not been cleaned? So you think it is dirt or what?
Probably just residue from the mortar or efflorescence from water the brick absorbed and later leached out. Either way it won't go away unless it's cleaned and probably a sealer applied.

Should have been pat of the clean up at the end of the project.

Contact a local mason and see what he says.

We did a large church addition a few years back and had to have it cleaned to get rid of the unsightly look.



He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors - Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.
- Henry Rosovsky-Harvard

Michael Larson
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Last edited by mlarson; 3/24/09 at 3:31 PM..
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  #9  
Old 3/27/09, 11:58 AM
ckratzer ckratzer is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

A mason would probably tell you it is calcium.
It's even more prevailant in construction that is done in cold temps when more calcium is added to the mortar to protect from freezing during construction.
I don't believe it is a moisture problem but asking a good mason would be your best bet.
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  #10  
Old 3/31/09, 11:57 PM
Jeffery L. Haynes Jeffery L. Haynes is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

Tell her that allot of cocaine addicts live there.........the white stuff is from where they throw the powder before the PoPo bust the door down......lol.....otherwise then that its a good neighborhood.
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  #11  
Old 4/1/09, 2:43 AM
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Kenton H. Shepard, CMI Kenton H. Shepard, CMI is offline
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Default Re: White stuff?

My guess:

I don't see any scuppers or downspouts.
Roof drainage is getting into the space between framing and brick and for some reason, drainage is blocked at these areas, is being absorbed by the brick and is drying to the outside, leaving efflorescence.
(Cut and pasted "efflorescence" form your post, Mike. Couldn't spell it.)




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