white deposites on brick wall?

[moneypenny]

I had a brick retaining wall built in my garden in September.

I noticed today white deposits on the face of some bricks and it appears to be seeping from some of the motor joints in others. The powder on the face of the bricks disapears when dampened. How do I find out if this is Efflorescence or Lime deposits as I understand the treatment can be different?

Will it disappear in time, or as this is a retaining wall will it be a recurring problem as it will always be damp? Could the builder have taken precautions to avoid this when building the wall?

It is double skinned the inner skin is breeze blocks and there is a cavity between. The deposits on the face of the bricks is quite low down where I suspect the cavity was breached.

 

[noseall]

Will it disappear in time, or as this is a retaining wall will it be a recurring problem as it will always be damp? Could the builder have taken precautions to avoid this when building the wall?

efflorescent salts are fairly common. so much so that bricks are given an efflorescent rating.

efflorescent 'bloom' usually occurs during a dry period that was preceded by a wet period.

it is best to let this process occur naturally. brush off the excess when you can. eventually all the salts will eek out.

efflourescent bloom would be very difficult to avoid. i would almost expect it in a retaining wall. a polythene backing can help reduce the movement of unwanted damp-carrying-salts from travelling from the earth to the masonry.

 

[moneypenny]

Thanks noseall, that would make sense we had a lot of rain now we are in a cold dry period.

I think the white deposits eeking out from the join where the motor meets the brick is lime because that doesn't disappear when dampened would I be right? I removed this with sandpaper because the brush wasn't very effective. I understood that this would need an acid cleaner to remove if left to accumulate

I brushed the efflorescence off with a stiff brush I guess I need to keep removing it until it settles down then.