Somewhat O/T - Concrete blocks

Patsdeere · Jan 2, 2009

I have a wall that seems to be disingrating. The cinder blocks have a white dust/layer on them and if you wipe/brush it off the hole just starts to go into the block. It looks like it is oozing out of the pores of the concrete. The wall is essentially protected from the elments. Any ideas on what might be causing this?

Thanks.

504-2 · Jan 2, 2009

water

Sidekick · Jan 2, 2009

You have masonary termites. The worst kind. Nothing can be done.

Pooh Bear · Jan 2, 2009

(quoted from post at 23:26:44 01/02/09) You have masonary termites. The worst kind. Nothing can be done.

:mrgreen: Concrete termites......I love it.

Sounds like something is reacting to the concrete.
Could be road salt from snow salted roads.

Or Efflorescence

Just some guesses.

Just to be safe you mite want to go ahead and treat for concrete termites anyway.

Pooh Bear

Janicholson · Jan 3, 2009

Water (even just dampness) will wash the lime out of concrete cinder blocks. The lime (from the cement holding the blocks together) will remain behind on the surface of the block as the water evaporates. If the block can be wire brushed to the point it becomes loose, or reduced to thin sections, it is very unsafe. If it is in whole sections of wall, I would get a contractor you trust to test a section. If it is salvagable, humidity reduction or water protection from the opposite side should be installed. THe blocks might be able to be protected from further decay, but I would get professional assistance. The worst would be to timber up the section of wall and replace the block. Not good news, but neither is falling into ones own basement. JimN

big hunter · Jan 3, 2009

efflorescence

Patsdeere · Jan 3, 2009

Thanks all. I guess since it is supporting the back side of the garage I need to figure out how to stop it.

The house has been there for years and it is a new thing. There isn't any drainage near it (eliminating that as a source of water), so could it really be coming all the way from the front of the house under the garage and through the wall?

If I was to put a sealer on the wall that would stop the seepage, but I would be concerned with the pressure buildup behind the wall. Would drilling a few small holes work to relieve that water pressure?

As always, thanks for the brain cells you can share with me.

Janicholson · Jan 3, 2009

There are many ways for water to get into the zone under a house. Springs, saturated soil, roof runoff going into percolation friendly soil, and garage melt off based moisture, are a few sources. If this is showing in your basement, I would make sure the bad blocks are removed, and replaced. Then I would consider having bentonite clay injected through the wall to waterproof the back side. It is one of those gotta do realities.
Supporting the sill plate/joists with a 48" beam, and adjustable lolly column, then removing a 32" section to the foundation, and replacing it with poured in place (forms) concrete, one section at a time. would also do. I cannot recommend the process to be done, use a professional on sight. Insurance might also play into this. An insurance agent would likely help pay for reduced liability. Just like stared windshields, are cheaper to fix than cracks across the whole window. JimN

Pooh Bear · Jan 3, 2009

Sealer wouldn't do any good on the inside.
The time to seal it would have been before it was back filled on the outside.
The sealer would be applied to the outside of the wall.

Pooh Bear

Patsdeere · Jan 3, 2009

I was afraid that the sealer was probably too good to be true. The bad part is that it isn't part of a basement, but part of the house foundation and compacted dirt is under the concrete floor of the garage. Guess it is time to call in the pros and let them handle it.

Thanks again.

Somewhat O/T - Concrete blocks

Patsdeere

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504-2

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Sidekick

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Pooh Bear

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Janicholson

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big hunter

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Patsdeere

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Janicholson

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Pooh Bear

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Patsdeere

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