Flaking paint and growing crystals

[Pg0001]

Something odd in our basement bedroom. The paint above the skirting is flaking away and there seems to be something that looks like crystalline powder coming out. Any ideas what this could be and what I should do?!

 

[JohnD]

Water penetration.

If it has only recently started, a leak may be the cause.

If it has not changed in the last hundred years, perhaps not.

Stand back and show the whole wall. What's on the other side of it?

 

[Pg0001]

Thanks. It’s new on a basement external wall. I’m told by my managing agent that it was tanked about 6 years ago. Would this suggest there’s a problem with the work?

 

[JohnD]

Tanking suggests there is a problem with water that they hoped to hide.

Your skirting looks like it is rotting.

 

[JohnD]

Stand back and show the whole wall. What's on the other side of it?