white fluff on bricks????

[traineelectrician]

alright there, ive recently been up in my loft and noticed all this white stuff on the brick work, but its only on the gable end detached side of the house. im thinking its damp, is it bad do i need to do anything.. ive attached pictures. i also went ouside on that side of the house and right at the bottom few courses the mortar is soft and has the same white fluff on????

Untitled

• traineelectrician
• 11 May 2009
• 1

Untitled

• traineelectrician
• 11 May 2009
• 1

 

[^woody^]

That looks like a chimney flue, in which case those are salts leeching out due to flue gasses.

Its common, and its not a damp issue

 

[traineelectrician]

yes it is, theres 2 going into 1. one fire has been taken out and not in use and the other is a back boiler fire so must be from that. thanks

 

[^woody^]

This stuff began its journey years ago when the house was built.

The chemicals are now well into the mortar and any bit of humity or natural condenstion etc is going to bring them out.

Just brush it off if/when you come to sell the place, just to prevent any enthusiastic surveyor recommending a price reduction