Re: lime deposits on cinder block

[Guest guest]

Effluescence... or something like that..

Its a normal thing that happens with brick and concrete. Its almost

certainly not mold.

Its dissolved salts on the surface.

[Guest guest]

I was recently in a friends basement and ran out when I saw a white

powder substance on the overhead beams. I have been meaning to ask

on here if that could be mold and what kind. I have heard of white

mold but never seen it or know enough about it to know how to

properly detect if this is indeed, mold. I heard some minerals can

cause this as well. I wonder if my friends is lime or mold??? I was

a bit freaked when I saw hers too!!

>

> I just had a meltdown last night. Just when I start feeling good

and not

> worrying too much about every little thing something happens. We

have had

> extremely cold weather and strong winds but basement has always

been dry and

> fairly warm.

[Guest guest]

Sue, it doesn't seem like it would be moisture from air since I think

lime deposits are only in ground water. I don't think lime is in

moisture in air. However concrete is very poroused. If walls are

unpainted you can put your hand up near wall and feel a 'breeze'

coming from 'underground air'. It really amazes me. Anyway, water

could have wicked through there and the drying from the dehumidifier

took the water away and left the lime behind on the wall. That would

be my guess.

Is it in spots or all over?

<<On the other hand>> if moisture is coming from doing laundry down

there or coming from drying laundry with laundry drier, perhaps vented

inside??, then water would be ground water airbourne and then could

have left those deposits. Are white deposits were it is logical that

could be from moisture put off my wash machine or drier venting or do

you hang laundry down there to dry sometimes?

Are you doing anything different down there that you weren't doing

before that may create humidity FROM ground (i.e. tap) water?

>

> I just had a meltdown last night. Just when I start feeling good and

not

> worrying too much

[Guest guest]

Can this happen on wood too?

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> Effluescence... or something like that..

>

> Its a normal thing that happens with brick and concrete. Its almost

> certainly not mold.

> Its dissolved salts on the surface.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Actually I have this too in my basement...white stuff on overhead

beams. My greataunt that lived here before me didn't have a clothes

drier and so hung her laundry in basement...had clothes line criss

crossing the basement. I assumed that is what caused it. I assumed

it was mold but doesn't look like it is growing so thought old dried

up mold but perhaps it is lime...wouldn't that be great for a change!

I can probably check that easily with lime cleaner or really vinegar.

But then vinegar could take off mold too, right? So perhaps do a tape

lift?

>

> I was recently in a friends basement and ran out when I saw a white

> powder substance on the overhead beams. I have been meaning to ask

> on here if that could be mold and what kind.

[Guest guest]

I have not followed all this post but it's efferesence sp??? but I

learned about that with cinder blocks with my previous damp

crawlspace. It is the moisture breaking down the cinderblocks and

can look white, powdery and it is the block breaking down and can

lead to cracks and break down the whole foundation/area. I had water

lines all over my cinderblocks and the efferesence and that was

happening by the first year in my house with a damp crawlspace. I

never did get cracks on the outside of the brick foundation but did

get cracks in the cinderblocks under the house. The cinderblocks

absorb the moisture and it holds the moisture and starts breaking

down the cinder blocks.

Even tho I did the extensive waterproofing under the house, I think

the cinderblocks are still absorbing moisture behind the 20 mil

polyethylene cover but the moisture isn't going under the house

anymore so I believe I still could get a cracked foundation and the

waterproofing company can waterproof the outside foundation also with

another high expense.

Rhonda

> >

> > Effluescence... or something like that..

> >

> > Its a normal thing that happens with brick and concrete. Its

almost

> > certainly not mold.

> > Its dissolved salts on the surface.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Rhonda, how do you waterproof the underside of the house? Did you do

it before it was built?

>

> Even tho I did the extensive waterproofing under the house, I think

> the cinderblocks are still absorbing moisture behind the 20 mil

> polyethylene cover

[Guest guest]

This white deposit isn't on the wood at all and the cinder blocks seem dry

not wet or damp at all! You could actually blow the stuff right off. Two people

have told me ) one used lime remover and it just dissolved it)that it's

lime from the cinder blocks. Suggested removing it with a cleaner and then

painting dry lock on the walls.

Of course I'm a total wreak about it and can hardly sleep until I'm certain

it isn't a major problem. Haven't felt sick at all and I would think that

would be the first sign of something moldy growing.

Sue

Actually I have this too in my basement...white stuff on overhead

beams. My greataunt that lived here before me didn't have a clothes

drier and so hung her laundry in basement...had clothes line criss

crossing the basement. I assumed that is what caused it. I assumed

it was mold but doesn't look like it is growing so thought old dried

up mold but perhaps it is lime...wouldn'up mold but perhaps it is

I can probably check that easily with lime cleaner or really vinegar.

But then vinegar could take off mold too, right? So perhaps do a tape

lift?

--- In _@ic_

(mailto: ) , " sea " <jackiebreeze@jac> wrote:

>

> I was recently in a friends basement and ran out when I saw a white

> powder substance on the overhead beams. I have been meaning to ask

> on here if that could be mold and what kind.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for reassuring me makes me a little more relaxed!!! Neighbor said

she has some too.

> Effluescence. Effluescence.<WBR>.. o

>

> Its a normal thing that happens with brick and concrete. Its almost

> certainly not mold.

> Its dissolved salts on the surface.

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[Guest guest]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That helps and makes me feel

better.

Effluescence.Effluescence.<WBR>.. or som

Its a normal thing that happens with brick and concrete. Its almost

certainly not mold.

Its dissolved salts on the surface.

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email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

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[Guest guest]

No, we haven't done anything different except that the temperature has been

extremely cold and windy.

Our dryer is vented outside and we don't hang wet clothes downstairs. It's

only in one area on not on every block and since Sat. hasn't changed at all.

Plumber told me it's lime that comes from the concrete but I'd like some more

opinions to ease my mind. I over worry about everything which mentally wears

me out!!!!!!!!

Sue

<<On the other hand>> if moisture is coming from doing laundry down

there or coming from drying laundry with laundry drier, perhaps vented

inside??, then water would be ground water airbourne and then could

have left those deposits. Are white deposits were it is logical that

could be from moisture put off my wash machine or drier venting or do

you hang laundry down there to dry sometimes?

Are you doing anything different down there that you weren't doing

before that may create humidity FROM ground (i.e. tap) water?

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email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

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