How to Avoid Efflorescence
Efflorescence is increasingly becoming an annoying aesthetic problem for new home owners and is now treated as a building maintenance issue. The first step in minimising efflorescence is to gain an understanding of how it forms.
Efflorescence only occurs when mortar or concrete remain saturated for long periods of time. This allows lime or other salts within the masonry to be dissolved and migrate to the surface where the water evaporates leaving the white salts deposited on the surface as ‘efflorescence’.
It has been found that due to their composition, balcony screed beds are a breeding ground for efflorescence. Fortunately, there are a number of processes that can be put into place to minimise the occurrence of efflorescence:
- Provide positive fall in the substrate to eliminate the pooling of water.
- Add a penetrate to the screed that will prevent water from entering the screed.
- Apply a secondary layer of waterproofing membrane to the cured screed, which also prevents water from entering the screed.
If you can’t manage to do all of the above, you will achieve the best results by adopting option number 3 above. The added bonus is that on top of eliminating efflorescence, this option will also increase the integrity and longevity of the balcony waterproofing system.
Multiskill Pty Ltd exclusively offer a unique ‘double layer balcony protection’ system which helps prevent the appearance of efflorescence by adding a second layer of waterproofing membrane on top of the screed bed. For a limited time, you can get double layer protection for your balconies for the special introductory price of only $24 sq/m. Call 1300 MSKILL or email info@multiskill.com.au to take advantage of this offer.
Multiskill Pty Ltd are Australia’s largest non-franchised residential waterproofing specialists, and have been providing the highest quality waterproofing services to the residential builders of Australia for almost 20 years. As a national company we offer competitive pricing, highly trained professional applicators and the best in waterproofing solutions, all of which are CSIRO approved and AS3740 compliant.
As industry leaders Multiskill is currently the preferred supplier to some of Australia’s largest builders including Clarendon, Cosmopolitan, Eden Brae, Henley, JG King, Metricon, Mirvac and Simonds Homes. For more information about Multiskill, or to request a quote please visit www.multiskill.com.au or call 1300 MSKILL.
Is efflorescence regarded as a building defect OR maintenance issue?
I need this to be answered in order to proceed further.
Thanks
Graham,
It is considered a maintenance defect.
do u fix it?
Is it possible to do just waterproofing under screed and not on top because the area on (flat concrete roof) is 820m2-
I dont want to do tiles – leave as is- screeded- and trafficable
Greetings
Thea
Ali,
We do not actually fix the problem we try and apply a preventative measure to avoid the problem in the first place. Unfortunately to fix the problem in most cases requires removal of the screed, cleaning of the affected areas and reapply the screed, top coat membrane and then retile if required.
Thea,
We always, always suggest waterproofing under the screed as a primary layer. The secondary layer over the screed is a preventative measure for the leakage of salts. If you want to water proof a roof and then not apply tiles there are several products that are UV stable and trafficable.