What is salt damp?
Salt damp arises from an underlying issue of damp. It occurs when the moisture from that damp carries soluble salts from the ground or building materials into the walls, floors and ceilings. As the moisture from the damp issue evaporates, the salts crystallise which creates white – orange deposits known as efflorescence. These hygroscopic salts can further break down and damage plaster, substrates and decorations. The underlying damp issue could be penetrating damp, rising damp or condensation. The salts are commonly chloride sodium and nitrate sodium but can sometimes be calcium.
What causes salt damp?
Salt damp is caused by an underlying damp issue within a property as the moisture from that damp issue can carry hygroscopic salts. This could be rising damp, where there are salts in the ground water, penetrating damp where there are salts in the rainwater and the substrate, a pipe leak, flooding, and condensation dampness.