Well what that means for you is if you just recently had a home inspector that went into the crawlspace or the basement and they saw this white chalky stuff all over the walls of the basement and crawl space then theyre like oh no weve got a water. Mildew a type of fungus similar to mold may also appear white and powdery. Efflorescence on the other hand is almost always white or yellow.
basement white mold or efflorescence
The easiest way to differentiate between the two is via a water test.
Basement white mold or efflorescence. In coastal areas moist salty air and rain can accelerate the formation of efflorescence. Mold on the other hand grows on organic materials such as wood. Spray a small quantity of water on the suspected substance. Second spray the substance with a little water in a spray bottle and simply wipe it with a rag.
Efflorescence occurs when water migrates through cement structures carrying salts to the surface. Due to their similar appearance the two substances often cause confusion. These salts are then deposited on the surface when the moisture evaporates leaving behind a crystalline like structure. However unlike mold it wont grow or spread and isnt a fungus.
White mold also emits a typical musty odor while efflorescence does not smell. How can you tell if you have white mold or efflorescence. Differentiating between mold growth and efflorescence. First look at the type of material on which you see the white substance.
To tell the difference between white mold and efflorescence you can try spraying the white spots with water. If you notice a white powdery film on your basement walls efflorescence is likely the culprit. Efflorescence develops on inorganic building materials like concrete and brick. Skip to content.
Salts like calcium carbonate are the most common causes of white efflorescence in basement concrete. Also efflorescence only occurs on masonry surfaces and never on wood. The moisture that creates efflorescence often comes from groundwater but rainwater can also be the source. Is white mold dangerous.
Commonly it shows up as a white residue but can vary depending on the material the water is moving through and which chemicals the water carries. If the white spots disappear they may be just efflorescence. Efflorescence is the residue thats left behind when water seeps through concrete stone or brick. Many types of mold can appear white in color depending on the type of material on which they are growing including aspergillus cladosporium and penicillium penicillium is often blue or bluish green and white.
Efflorescence typically shows up better on darker concrete and occurs when the salts and other materials in the concrete make their way to the surface. If you see it on anything other than concrete or masonry its mold. Types of white mold in basement environments. Its salt deposits leave a white residue that resembles mold.
Sometimes you will see mold on things like concrete or brick because it can grow and feed on dirt or other organic substances on those surfaces. In the winter rocksalt can mix with melting snow and ice to work its way into the foundation of homes especially those with poor drainage. Efflorescence does not pose a major problem but it can be an indication of a moisture intrusion so what all does that mean. It that removes it its not mold.
While mold can be these colors you know you are not looking at efflorescence if it is black gray green blue or pink. Mold or efflorescence how to what is white mold and it dangerous water damage in basements or crawl es white stuff on your concrete wall efflorescence on concrete removalidentifing efflorescence and mold growth environixwhite mold or efflorescence wet block walls with powderwhite mold vs efflorescence differences dangers dealingthe mysterious white continue reading. This can diminish the appearance of your basement walls.
