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October 17, 2007
Crumbling bricks
I own a brownstone in Bed Sty. The common interior wall which the staircase runs up has exposed bricks. They've been sealed (you can tell because they are shiny). But, on the second floor some of the bricks literally crumble when you touch them, but in to a very fine white powder. These are not white bricks... they are natural/red color. I have no idea what this could be. Does anyone have an idea?
Comments
Efflorescence. Salts coming though the brick with moisture.
Posted by: guest at October 17, 2007 2:28 PM
Does the white powder look like salt or mineral crystals or look like a white "fuzz"?
I'm not an expert but this is normal and is most likely from moisture seeping through the brick and then evaporating, leaving mineral deposits that look like white powder.
If you're talking about the mortar or brickface crumbling or loose bricks, that's another story.
Posted by: Mr Joist at October 17, 2007 2:32 PM
Thanks for the 2 reponses! Yes, it looks like a white fuzz. Should I be worried about this? Does it lead to other problems? Mainly, it's just a nuisance and creates a big mess. How does one eliminate this? I have no idea where the moisture is coming from...
Posted by: sarahw at October 17, 2007 3:14 PM
sounds like it's efflorescence, due to moisture in the brick... forms salts and then powders up... the powdery substance is called effloresence.
http://www.buildingdiagnostics.com/articles/masonry.html
Posted by: bren at October 17, 2007 6:54 PM
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