What is causing the white stuff on my concrete?
by
Joanie
+12
Since the cold weather and some snow this has happened. On our back porch off the Laundry room. Outside on the porch around the area next to the door and house, is a white on the concrete of my porch. Around that area only. Salt, NO...It is just around the perimeter of the porch, about 5 inches out from the walls and door. Does anyone know what this would be? Or what is causing it? Joanie, Thank you in advance.
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Is the porch covered? Is it coming from roof/eaves/gutters drip line? Could be paint oxidized run off? From shingles? Something in snow that was on roof that has melted running off of roof onto concrete. From the trim around windows or door? Could be leaching up from ground/cement but sounds more like run off from something. Maybe a picture would help us
It sounds like effervescence which comes out of the damp concrete. Just wash it off with a vinegar and warm water solution.
Your concrete is leaching the lime that is in it. When the concrete was poured, they made it with too much lime. There is really no way to get rid of it,even if you can clean if off as it is in the concrete and you are just cleaning the surface. It will come back next year.
I believe Joan has discovered your problem, which will continue until all the salts in the concrete mix have surfaced. Is this a newer patio? Sometimes it takes a while for efflorescence to surface. Continue to clean with a stiff brush and water, then spray Wet n'Forget Outdoors, thoroughly saturating the patio surface where you see the problem.
As an afterthought, do you have a newer painted railing on the patio that could also be contributing to the problem?
I believe I figured out my problem. We had the house power washed. I swept my porch today and the white area. It turned to a powder. Voila!! The soap that wasn't completely rinsed off......it is also on the front porch.
I figured it out......thank you ALL!
Great analysis, and so much easier!