White Mold On Concrete Wall

If you see efflorescence it means that water is getting trapped inside your block or concrete wall.

White mold on concrete wall.

It is not mold. When the water evaporates a white fluffy structure is left behind. Efflorescence occurs when water moves through a masonry structure bringing unbounded salts to the surface. Both can be cleaned.

White mold can grow on concrete surfaces. Efflorescence can look very similar to white mold growth. While the white powder often found on basement walls and mold are caused by similar conditions they are actually different materials. White mold white mold in basementafter flooding or prolonged dampness is easily identified by the characteristic white cottony mycelium of the mold that grows on the surfaces water damaged organic material.

White mold growth provides an additional challenge because it is often confused with efflorescence a crystalline growth structure found on concrete and masonry surfaces. Mold is always connected with moisture problems. As the water evaporates at the surface the salts and minerals are left behind leaving a crystalline growth. Mold can grow on many kinds of surfaces including drywall tile fabrics and even concrete.

You can remove efflorescence with phosphoric acid but that won t prevent that water problem. Mold is a living organism that occurs in wet environments. Moisture problems can occur in areas where rainfall is heavy and drainage is insufficient. Efflorescence is often mistaken for white moldin basement concrete because they look a lot alike.

However it is a sign of a water problem. It occurs when moisture moves through concrete or other types of masonry and pulls minerals along with the water.