How to remove efflorescence on rendered wall?

[liverbird]

Hi All,

This looks like efflorescence but just wanted to check what is it and how to get rid of it and prevent it from happening. This is just on two of the four sides of the wall.

 

[liverbird]

Hi Dave,

Here are the pictures of the balcony upstairs.

Can compromised grouting lead to this ? There are very small gaps at the footings.

 

 

[EricL]

Hi @liverbird 

Thank you for the extra pictures of your balcony. It appears that there is a plumbing drain that could be a possible source of the leak. In regards to your question, yes, compromised grout and a compromised water proofing membrane could lead to a leak into your post. This is definitely something that the leak detector can look into and investigate. Let me tag @Dave-1 to make them aware of the photos.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @liverbird 

Yeah @EricL has hit the answer as well. I would suspect there is an issue either with the drain and where its going, with the waterprrofing of the tiles on the balcony or even build up of debris around/over the hole causing the water to pool longer then it should (There is a drain on the balcony at work that floods all the time as someone would put a pot plant over it. ) A water detection person would be my next step, someone who has the right equipment (maybe check that the drain actually isnt blocked as well.)

Dave

[AlanM52]

Hi @liverbird,

Wondering what going on there?

With safety in mind can you take some photos from above.

Maybe a lintel issue?

Cheers

[liverbird]

Hi @AlanM52, 

These are general hairline cracks in the rendered walls. When you say above, from where exactly ? The balcony photos shared are from above.

I also speculate that water is entering thru these hairline cracks eventually leading to efflorescence.