Exterior bricks are turning white!

[doglover]

Recently noticed that a small patch of bricks on an exterior wall have a whitish 'bloom'. We had a water leak inside a couple of weeks ago - would this have resulted in the wall changing colour?! Our house is due to be surveyed in a fortnight and we're desperate to remedy this problem. Please help and offer any advice.

Anyone, please?!

Dh is a builder.

He says it usually only happens in new houses, is yours new? [new being the first year/2years] He says if it hasn't been like that for years it doesn't usually just happen.

He said you won't get rid of it. Well, you might for a couple of weeks if you wash it with brick acid but it will come back again.

You could wash it with the acid before the survey is done.. he says it won't/doesn't do it any harm, just makes it bad looking.

He says a water leak might cause it but shouldn't really be the cause.

HTH

He says it's the mortar that causes the whiteness. If there is any salt/calcium in the water used to mix the mortar it will cause a chemical reaction & cause the brick to turn white.

Message withdrawn

Yeah That's why we built with blocks & plastered

I love Mumsnet!! Thanks so much for your replies. I'll have a think about what to do.