The White Powder That Keeps Coming Back
A chalky white crust starts appearing around the outside of a window.
Brush it away and the brickwork looks clean again. A few weeks of wet weather pass and the same powder comes straight back.
The first thought is usually the window. Failed sealant. Damaged uPVC. Something leaking out of the frame.
The white stuff can actually be coming from the wall.
Water Is Carrying Salts Through the Brickwork
Brick and mortar contain naturally occurring soluble salts.
Moisture gets into the masonry and dissolves small amounts of those salts. It then works towards the exposed surface.
The water eventually evaporates.
The salt doesn’t.
It gets left behind as a dry white crystalline deposit called efflorescence.
Bournemouth Weather Keeps the Wall Wet
Exposed walls around Bournemouth take plenty of wind-driven rain.
Water gets pushed against brickwork, render, window reveals and cills rather than simply dropping vertically past them.
A cracked perimeter seal, damaged mortar joint or badly detailed cill can keep one section around a window wetter than it should be.
That makes the location of the white deposit useful.
A heavy build-up concentrated around one corner or down one side of a frame deserves more attention than simply wiping the wall clean again.
Find the Water Before Cleaning the Salt
Start outside and inspect the masonry around the complete window opening.
Look for cracked mortar, failed perimeter sealant, damaged render and gaps around the frame. Check the cill and make sure water has a clear route away from the building.
Dry efflorescence can usually be brushed from the masonry with a stiff dry brush.
Don’t immediately attack it with strong acids or soak the wall trying to wash every mark away. Adding more water without dealing with the moisture source can simply feed the same problem again.
Repair the route letting excessive water into the area and give the masonry time to dry.
The white deposit is the evidence. The moisture behind it is the part worth finding.
Trade Counter Supplies
White crust around a window does not automatically mean the frame has failed.
Bournemouth weather can expose problems around the frame-to-wall junction that stay hidden during drier months.
Head down to DWC Trade Windows at 78 Alma Road, Bournemouth for window sealants, installation products and replacement components.
Call us on 01202 533126 for help with window installation and repair supplies in Bournemouth.
