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Care and Repair

White Stains on Brick: What Efflorescence Means

5 min readBy the Nashville Brick Mason team

Key takeaways

  • Efflorescence is salt left on the surface when water moves through masonry.
  • It is a sign of moisture, so cleaning alone will not fix it.
  • Find the source: gutters, grading, joints or caps.
  • Use breathable treatments, not film sealers that trap water.

White, chalky powder on brick, block or stone is called efflorescence. The salts are usually not dangerous, but they are a clue.

What causes it

Water enters the masonry, dissolves natural salts and carries them to the surface, where the water evaporates and the salts stay behind.

What to do

  • Find and fix where water gets in: gutters, downspouts, grading, failed joints and missing caps
  • Dry brush or gently clean the salts
  • Use a breathable water repellent if needed

What to avoid

Film-forming sealers can trap moisture and cause the brick face to flake off. Our Wall Doctor tool explains common signs.

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