What is the White Powder on Your Concrete Basement Walls
If you notice white powder on concrete walls and floors in your basement, it’s probably something called efflorescence. This chalky, crumbly substance is much more than just a cosmetic issue. Unfortunately, it indicates excess moisture in your basement, which may damage your belongings and eventually cause structural problems.
Luckily, you can get rid of efflorescence pretty easily. However, you’ll also want to address the moisture problem that caused it in the first place. Otherwise, it might come back again.
Here’s what to do about efflorescence and how a basement waterproofing expert like Groundworks can help.
What Is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence appears as a white powder on concrete walls and floors in your basement. When water penetrates concrete and reacts with naturally occurring salts, it leaves behind salt deposits when it evaporates, resulting in a substance that looks a little like white paint.
You might notice other signs of excess moisture in your basement alongside efflorescence, such as:
Contact a basement waterproofing expert if you experience efflorescence or any of the problems above. Taking swift action can prevent moisture from damaging your home and threatening your family’s safety.
How To Remove Efflorescence
The good news is that you can clean efflorescence off concrete surfaces with items you probably already have in your home. Here’s how to do it:
- Use a brush with stiff bristles to scrub most of the white powder off walls and floors. Then, wipe these areas with a clean cloth to remove remaining deposits.
- If that doesn’t work, add vinegar to a bowl of warm water and apply the solution to affected areas. This should dissolve the salt deposits without damaging concrete surfaces.
- You can also buy an efflorescence remover from the hardware store to get rid of more stubborn stains.
Cleaning efflorescence off surfaces won’t stop it from returning. You’ll also need to tackle the root cause of the issue, which is almost always excess moisture.
After removing efflorescence, we recommend contacting a basement waterproofing expert to dry out your basement and prevent moisture from infiltrating your home.
Removing Moisture From Your Basement
Moisture can enter your basement and cause efflorescence for various reasons, including:
- Expansive clay soils, which is a common problem here in Toronto
- Broken waterproofing systems
- Elevated groundwater levels
- Flooding due to heavy rainfall or snowmelt
- Leaky plumbing
- Condensation
Groundworks will identify the cause of excess moisture in your basement and prevent it from coming back again. As a result, you can protect your home’s structural integrity and avoid mold, pests, and other problems associated with too much water.
Our custom-engineered solutions for tackling basement moisture intrusion include:
- Installing an interior drainage and sump pump system to move water away from your basement
- Sealing cracks and leaks in walls and flooring
- Attaching a vapor barrier to control moisture
- Regulating moisture levels with our industrial-strength dehumidifier
All our custom-engineered basement waterproofing solutions come with long-term warranties for peace of mind. We can also monitor your basement for future problems with our annual maintenance checks.
Count on Groundworks for Basement Waterproofing
White powder on concrete floors and walls in your basement indicates an excess moisture issue that you need to address. While you can clean efflorescence off surfaces easily, you’ll want to identify its root cause and prevent its return.
This is where Groundworks comes in. Our sump pumps, vapor barriers, and other waterproofing solutions keep your basement dry and safe, helping you protect your home for years to come.
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