Efflorescence on masonry

The Issue

Salts leach from mortar as moisture dries out of it and can appear as a white dust or residue on the masonry. It naturally occurs from the drying out of new masonry and is not harmful to the house. These salts can be washed off with water or will disappear with weathering. However, if efflorescence persists at localized areas, this may indicate that a moisture problem may exist. Crumbling bricks at localized areas can also indicate a moisture problem.