Types of salt found in a home
Understanding Salt on Internal Walls
White marks, crumbling paint, or persistent damp patches can often be traced back to salts migrating through masonry...
Efflorescent Salts
- Efflorescence appears as white, powdery or crystalline deposits – typically forming on masonry surfaces.
- Common causes: Penetrating damp from rain, failed pointing, or wall cracks.
Treatment: Once the moisture source is fixed, salts can be brushed off or cleaned...
Hygroscopic Salts
- Hygroscopic salts attract and retain moisture from the air – causing walls to appear damp even in dry conditions.
Treatment: Improve ventilation or, for severe cases, strip affected plaster and apply a salt-neutralising treatment.
Deliquescent Salts
- Deliquescent salts dissolve into absorbed moisture – leading to damp patches that rarely dry out.
Treatment: Manage humidity and consider replastering with breathable materials.
Understanding which type of salt you’re dealing with helps guide the right remedy — from ventilation improvements to full salt-resistant replastering.