Garden Wall

[craft1948]

Why has my 3 year old garden wall suddenly got large patches of white on it?

[jackthehat]

It'll be the weather.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efflorescence

[craft1948]

Thanks Jack, it seem to be on the parts of the wall which are not sheltered by the house and canopy, so are more open to the elements.
Is the wall itself okay then?

[tonyav]

Thats called effervescence, crafty.

[jackthehat]

It ought to be fine. It's the mineral salts in the bricks leaching their way to the surface.
if the front of the bricks start to spall (i.e. flake off) you might want to consider having something done about it, but the Efflorescence itself is harmless.

[SirOracle]

Giant Pigeons maybe :)