Whats the white stuff coming up from between our tiles ? ! ?

AndyLynnW


Joined: 05/12/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 18:13

Can anyone throw any light on this please?



There is a white deposit an inch or so high coming up from the joint between two tiles.



Two ideas from neighbours so far:



(1) Its salt.( It does look a bit like a crystalised substance)



(2) Its lime from the cement due to damp.



If you have any experience of this or a definite answer would like to know !



Many Thanks

michelle3012


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 578

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 18:28

Yes we have it too, its salt efflorescence!!!

What is efflorescence?

Efflorescence is a problem affecting all cement based building materials. This includes pavers, brickwork, blockwork, concrete, render, grout and tiles. In every kilogram of cement-based material there are also many grams of water-soluble salts. Most commonly, efflorescence begins when unused lime compounds from the cement are dissolved in mixing water, ground water or rain. Evaporation of the water brings these lime compounds to the surface where they can react with carbon dioxide in air to form insoluble crystalline calcium carbonate. This is the unsightly white powdery material we often see on pavers that detracts from what should otherwise be an attractive and clean surface. In extreme cases the efflorescence can obscure the surface and the crystallisation can cause erosion and pitting.

AndyLynnW


Joined: 05/12/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 18:37

Thank you for the reply..thats answered the question!



Is this a major problem or just an inconvenience that needs cleaning every so often ?

andrew4232



Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 1543

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 18:50

the latter we all get it

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 19:44

so it is nothing to do with the sand if you are lucky to have just sand under your floor most of the time it is earth and in some cases 8/9in thick beetween your base and the 1in they stick the tilles down with dont listen to the get fix quick there isnt one most of you are standing on 1in of cement under your tile and the rest is mud or some sand it will take at least 6 months to dry out as it is incased dont waste your money and beware as this year has been the worst pay £5000 pay what ever you will still have same prob keep your money in your pocket and wait

banjo


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 113

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:05

And one more thing if it is caused by rainwater; you will have to make sure that rain water can't enter. That can be done with 'silicone' (not every where) and with what the locale cypriots calls 'bodur'. The weak places, outside, are along skirting boards, doorsteps (terraces etc.) and if it has not been done (depending of which kind of tiles are used) a sealing of the surface (bodur). But also make sure there are no other weak spots where rain water can enter.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:09

The local drug dealers got scared and dumped their stash of class A on your property and it's seeping through, use a straw and be happy!



Richard

michelle3012


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 578

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:34

Gates,



6 Months, you are joking been waiting nearly 4 years and still the same!

baldy


Joined: 18/11/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:34

As usual, a genuine request from a member for advice receives a frivolous and kindergaten associated humour reply from this poster Brinsley. How sad!!

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:48

you wont stop it you cant stop it your house is a spounge full of under floor sand gapping holes where your air con goes through the wall with all the pipes going down most air con compresors are above so the pipe work is a good decent for any water to travel everything is leading to desaster and the you have your ilegals that are only here for a quick buck if not they would invest the money to earn the money they could be on there bike any day i have had calls this week from many a customer that used them last year and now down same road cheap yes why o why do the people come here and there brain goes wake up cheap house cheap remadies same out come and same moans wake up or shut up thats what i have learnt are you in there or some were wlse

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 20:59

Msg 9

Much prefer creche and still have a full head of hair Mr Baldy!



Richard

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:24

Hear, hear, Brins! - Baldy reads like he's been having an extra 'bad hair day'!



As for the 'white crystalline deposits'; so not to deviate 'off-thread', the fact that 'el cheapo' builders use unwashed (read 'beach') sand in their 'dump it and run' concrete tent construction efforts may have something to with it. The only alternative explanation may well be the humble garden snails' 'coke'-soaked excretions - which, of course ties in with Brinsley's educated-guess hypothesis!

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 13:01

Baldy

There have been 650 hits on this which you wouldn't get if most weren't thinking about snorting a line!