Salts on brick work

[renishawphil]

I have had an ongoing problem with salts on a certain section of brick work over the last two years , constantly having to use some chemical to remove , it has eaten a little bit of brickwork over time.

The thing is it has been going on for such a long period of time, it is not a new build and after having a look on google there is no obvious sign that the brick work would have become wet, so no leaking pipes (its outside kitchen wall), not a heavily weather area

I then noticed this on the bay window at the front on some pointing and have treated that today

For the life of me i cant work out what is causing it, it seems very localized.

 

[^woody^]

If it's efflorescence then you can't wash it off or use a chemical , and if you try you make it worse.

 

[renishawphil]

Thanks I think it is .I am confused as there is a blue brick damp proof course underneath so no idea how it's getting damp

 

[renishawphil]

I thought at one stage it might have been to do with the kitchen appliances against the wall. But everything is dry and it's a cavity wall.

 

[tony1851]

Clearly it's efflorescence and trying to wash it off with anything will only disolve the salts and get them reabsorbed back into the brickwork;
brushing with a stiff bristle brush is the way to remove them.

Despite what you say, there must be recurring dampness from some cause; the salts can only be deposited on the surface when the dampness dries out, therefore water must be present, even if intermittently.

 

[Leofric]

How many courses of blue brick are there forming the dpc ?

 

[renishawphil]

The damp course is two blue bricks. I think I might run a small chemical damp course just above the blue brick line and see if that does the trick

 

[tony1851]

The damp course is two blue bricks. I think I might run a small chemical damp course just above the blue brick line and see if that does the trick

Staffordshire Blues in the right mortar are usually good as a dpc.
But do they run through the thickness of the wall, or are they only on the outer face?

 

[renishawphil]

Staffordshire Blues in the right mortar are usually good as a dpc.
But do they run through the thickness of the wall, or are they only on the outer face?

Sorry for late reply. They are on both courses of the wall