When people see white spots appearing on the wall, they often think of mold. Yet in most cases, it’s a different problem: saltpeter or wall salts. The cause of white spots on the walls, whether it’s mold, saltpeter, or wall salts, is the same. It means your home is dealing with a moisture problem.
How do you know if white spots on the wall are mold? And how can you combat these white spots on the wall?
White Spots on the Wall Don’t Always Indicate Mold
Those who see white spots on the wall might make the connection to mold. But molds typically have a dark color. The most common mold is black mold, which you usually find in the kitchen, bathroom, or cellar. In these areas, the relative humidity is high, and condensation forms easily.
What are these white spots then? Often, it’s saltpeter or wall salts. And they have the same cause as mold in the house: moisture. Moisture in the house can occur in different ways. There’s the aforementioned condensation, but rising damp or penetrating damp can also be the culprit. Rising damp is water from the ground that has settled in the bricks. With penetrating damp, the facade is no longer completely waterproof, and rainwater can seep in.
White Spots on the Wall: Saltpeter, Wall Salts, or Mold?
Saltpeter on the Walls
Saltpeter formation is common. Saltpeter is a white substance that looks like mold. It occurs as a result of a chemical reaction. Groundwater contains many minerals and chemical substances. When your home suffers from rising damp, not only groundwater enters the bricks, but also these minerals. These substances, including ammonia and various nitrates, will then react with potassium carbonate in the bricks. The result is a white substance we call saltpeter.
White Wall Salts
Another possibility is wall salts. Groundwater also contains hygroscopic salts, which, like the minerals, enter the bricks along with the groundwater. These salts form a white haze on the walls, especially when the water in the building material dries up. White wall salts often occur when your home suffers from rising damp.
Molds on the Walls
Finally, we also mention molds on the walls. These don’t arise from substances present in groundwater, but from mold spores. These spores thrive excellently in damp spots, usually caused by condensation on the surface of the building material.
The spores that molds produce to reproduce are toxic. When you inhale them, you experience respiratory complaints. Fatigue, headaches, and shortness of breath are also symptoms.
How Do You Combat White Spots on the Wall?
If it is indeed mold, you must have the surface mold removed with a fungicidal agent. But of course, it doesn’t stop there; you also need to address the underlying moisture problem to avoid moisture issues in the future.
When it comes to saltpeter or wall salts, you must first carefully remove the white spots. And again, it’s crucial to halt the rising or penetrating damp.
Address the Underlying Moisture Problem
But how do you tackle the moisture problem itself? That depends on the nature of the moisture problem. If it’s rising damp, a wall injection is usually recommended in most cases. Our experts then drill holes in the affected wall, which are filled with a moisture-repellent agent. Once it has hardened, water from the ground can no longer make its way up and thus no longer cause white spots on the walls. For advanced cases of rising damp, underpinning of the wall may be necessary.
If it concerns penetrating moisture, the facade needs treatment. We will repair and thoroughly clean the facade. Next, we perform a hydrophobic treatment. We spray the bricks with a moisture-repellent substance that is completely transparent. Water no longer comes into contact with the building material, preventing rainwater from penetrating.
You can solve mold issues caused by condensation by properly ventilating the space. If that’s not possible, for example in a cellar or bathroom without a window, it’s advisable to install a mechanical ventilation system. This way, you not only always have fresh air in the house, but you also don’t have to open windows in winter to prevent mold.
Solusio Combats White Spots on Walls
Solusio is ready to remove white spots on walls, whether it’s saltpeter, wall salts, or mold. And of course, we also address the underlying moisture problem to eliminate those white spots on the wall once and for all.
Thanks to our years of experience and expertise, we find the most effective solution for every moisture problem. Contact us today.