Eff-Off!
Efflorescence Removal
Newcastle & the North East
Efflorescence Removal: Eff-Off!
Eff-Off! Get rid of unsightly efflorescence
Efflorescence is the white, powdery, salt deposit that appears on brick work, particularly on new-build homes. It can make a newly built home look patchy, stained and poorly finished.
Kerb Appeal’s Eff-Off! Process removes efflorescence safely and restores brickwork to it’s natural colour and brings back your Kerb Appeal.
What is Efflorescence?
Structurally there is nothing wrong with the brick. It’s not mould, damp, dirt or a defect. It’s chemistry.
Bricks contain natural water-soluble salts which are harmless when locked inside the material. They only become visible when moisture moves through the brick, bringing them to the surface.
How does water get into the brick? Brick is porous. Water gets in through rainfall, humidity, ground moisture, poor drainage and construction process. New homes are especially prone as construction materials such as mortar etc contain moisture which gets trapped - the building is drying out for quite some time after you move in.
Why do salts come to the surface? Water enters the brick or mortar. It mixes with and dissolves the natural salts. The moisture migrates to the surface. The water evaporates. The salts are left behind as a white powder on the brick, sometimes a foam like deposit on deposit the bricks and sometimes a crystalline crust on the bricks. The visible white bloom is efflorescence.
It’s streaky, patchy and sometimes bands of light or very thick almost foam like bloom.
Eff-Off! Efflorescence Removal
-
Eff-Off!: Clean it.
The front of your house; first impression.
White powder on bricks? Salt stains on brickwork? Patchy white stains on new brickwork? This is unsightly efflorescence. At Kerb Appeal we clean the effloresce bloom off using a chemical and manual method, depending on the severity and scale. Then we seal and protect the brick.
Eff-Off! Professional Kerb Appeal Removal:
Removes salt bloom.
Brings the brick back to original colour.
Transforms your exterior.
-
Eff-Off!: Seal & Protect.
Breathable Seal & Protection
We don’t just clean. We treat and protect your brickwork surface too. We use ProPerla Renotec breathable sealer. It seals from the outside in, not the inside out. It prevents moisture getting in and still allows all moisture back out - your brick must always be able to breathe.
A Professional Kerb Appeal Clean & Seal:
Allows the brick to breathe.
Stops moisture getting in.
Is clear, you’ll never know it’s there.
-
Eff-Off!: Transform Your Exterior .
Eff-Off! Improves Kerb Appeal.
The front of your house is your first impression. Efflorescence makes your house look unsightly. Salt bloom staining the front of your new house is just unsightly. At Kerb Appeal we remove efflorescence and bring the brick back to its original colour. You’ll have the best looking house on the street!
A Professional Kerb Appeal Clean & Seal:
A super quick way to create Kerb Appeal.
Brings the front of your home back to life.
Says “House Proud” like nothing else.
Eff-Off! Efflorescence Removal
You’re probably searching for “How do I get rid of white efflorescence bloom on my house?”, “Should I remove efflorescence?” or “Is efflorescence a problem?” Talk to Kerb Appeal. Efflorescence is usually not structurally dangerous, but, it can make your new home look really unsightly, dirty and stained. In some cases it can look like someone’s spattered paint across the front of your house - definitely reduces Kerb Appeal.
You don’t need to remove efflorescence, it will stay there doing its thing. It might fade a little over time, it might not and in some elevations that are shaded and darker it might continue to develop.
“Should I remove efflorescence?”, “How do I remove those white stains from by brickwork?” It’s really unsightly, especially on a fresh new house, so you can remove it and seal the brick with a professional breathable sealer that massively reduces the chance of any reoccurrence. You might be asking, “Is efflorescence removal worth it?” If your home looks patchy and stained them removing efflorescence will restore that new brick finish and improve re-sale Kerb Appeal. “Does efflorescence just come back?” If you remove it and don’t treat the brick, it almost certainly will come back. Water, mainly through rainfall will continue to soak the brickwork every time it rains, it will naturally dry out through migrating water bringing salts to the surface. At Kerb Appeal, we manually and chemically treat the salt deposit to remove it from the surface and then we seal the brickwork with a breathable sealer - to moisture cannot go back into the brick and it remains breathable. “Why would I seal the brickwork?” The exterior finish of your home should not allow moisture in and absolutely allow moisture out. Modern, professional brick sealer does this job, it stops moisture going in and is fully breathable allowing moisture out - and not trapping it inside.
The salts will begin to reduce over time and eventually you are left with surface staining. You might have been told it will largely disappear. In many case it doesn’t. You are left with thick, crusty, layered bloom or heavy staining. This is when professional cleaning and sealing makes a huge difference.
Trust the Kerb Appeal Eff-Off! Efflorescence Removal Process!
FAQs
What areas does Kerb Appeal operate in?
We operate in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Durham and Northumberland.
Is efflorescence a sign of damp?
Not usually. It’s usually salts within the brick migrating to the surface. However, if it is getting worse, returning consistently, it could be a sign of a moisture problem; poor drainage, leaking gutter, damaged mortar. It’s worth a conversation to have this checked.
What exactly is efflorescence bloom?
Efflorescence is the white, powdery deposit that appears on brickwork when natural salts inside the brick or mortar dissolve in water and migrate to the surface. When the water evaporates, the salts are left behind as a visible white bloom. It’s a chemical reaction, not mould, not dirt, and not usually a defect.
Will efflorescence stop on its own?
In many new homes, efflorescence is worst during the first 2 years while construction moisture works its way out. As the building fully dries and the available soluble salts reduce, the blooming usually becomes less frequent. Although it may return seasonally. However, heavy or recurring deposits may not disappear completely without professional treatment. Even when the salts reduce - you will likely be left with heavy staining.
Will the white marks remain?
The salt migration is not uniform. Some lighter areas may fade over a long time. But heavier crystalline and almost foam like deposits and heavy staining or patchiness will remain visible. This is where professional cleaning and removal makes a huge difference.
Will efflorescence come back?
If the building has largely dried out and there are no ongoing moisture issues, recurrence is usually.
If the property is very new or exposed to persistent moisture, light blooming may occasionally reappear, but proper cleaning, treatment and sealing significantly reduces this.
Should I just pressure wash efflorescence off?
No! This may look like it removes it. It will likely force salts deeper into the brick and completely soak the brick. Modern bricks are porous and untreated, so you could make the problem worse by jet washing. At Kerb Appeal, our Eff-Off! process uses manual and chemical stages to remove the surface salts without driving moisture back into the brick. We also seal the brick with a breathable seal for long lasting protection that stops moister going back into the brick and still allows any moisture back out - allowing the brick to breathe.
Does sealing brickwork stop efflorescence?
Sealing really helps, but only if the sealing product is breathable. If it’s not high quality breathable product naturally occurring moisture will get trapped inside the brick - you absolutely do not want trapped moisture.
What products do you use?
We use ProPerla Renotec breathable sealing and protecting products. This is the best on the market at protecting your exterior. It is breathable; it allows natural moisture to escape, which is essential and it doesn't not allow moisture in - it seals from the outside in but not inside out. It also repels dirt, mould, and growth, is long lasting and is clear - you don’t even know it’s there.
How much does Eff-Off efflorescence removal cost?
As you can imagine, it depends on the size and scale of the job. We will pop out and give you a quote.