Basement leakage clues – efflorescence

Interior · Wet Basements and Crawlspaces · printed page 373 (PDF page 374)

Original page Sign in to save

Book index entries

Basement – Efflorescence

Text in the illustration

leakage from water collecting against foundation water evaporates at wall serface water condenses on cold foundation wall and later evaporates, leaving efflorescence behind Basement leakage clues – efflorescence efflorescence is a powdery white substance that appears when water with dissolved minerals evaporates efflorescence forms because of water on the surface of the wall, either from leaks or from condensation, for example: efflorescence may also form because of moisture diffusion through a wall concrete and clay are not water-tight, for example: water evaporates at wall surface wind-driven rain blockage in wall: water unable to reach weep holes efflorescence efflorescence moisture diffusion
efflorescence is a powdery white substance that appears when water with dissolved minerals evaporates
efflorescence forms because of water on the surface of the wall, either from leaks or from condensation, for example:
efflorescence may also form because of moisture diffusion through a wall
concrete and clay are not water-tight, for example:
leakage from water collecting against foundation
water evaporates at wall surface
water condenses on cold foundation wall and later evaporates, leaving efflorescence behind
efflorescence
wind-driven rain
blockage in wall: water unable to reach weep holes
moisture diffusion

Generated explanation

The illustration shows powdery white efflorescence deposits on brick, masonry block, and concrete wall surfaces. A foundation-wall section depicts water collecting against the foundation and passing through it, then evaporating at the interior surface and leaving mineral deposits. The same section illustrates condensation on a cold foundation wall followed by evaporation and efflorescence. A second wall section shows wind-driven rain entering a brick-faced masonry assembly, with a cavity blockage preventing water from reaching weep holes. Arrows show moisture diffusion through the backing wall and evaporation at its surface, illustrating that efflorescence can arise from several moisture mechanisms.

Related illustrations

2090

Basement leakage clues – crumbling plaster, drywall or masonry

· p. 373

The illustration shows a basement corner with exposed masonry foundation wall, drywall over studs, and plaster applied directly to the wall. Spalling near the bottom of the exposed masonry is attributed to moisture movin