Remove excess dirt, mortar, etc. with a stiff yard brush or hand brush, the use of a churn brush is advised as extra pressure can be used on this type of brush.

Once the Salt Neutraliser is fully dry you can redecorate your wall using paint or wallpaper. It is also useful to note that if you are going to paint the area then you may want to use a stain and damp primer before adding your top coat. The stain and damp primer will ensure that no tide marks or marks or any kind will reappear on the surface at any point in the future Colours are sold in the nearest tin size but actual paint volume per tin may vary up to 10% depending on colour The initial staining that occurs with lime leaching can be removed using water and a brush. However, once the calcium hydroxide has reacted with the air and formed calcium carbonate, this can only be removed by an acid solution.

Step 6. Finish

Ensure that the surface to be treated is completely free from dust and dirt before application. If necessary, wash with LTP Power Stripperdiluted 1:10 with water. There are a small number of non-acidic products that claim to remove cement staining without affecting the substrate but in our experience these only work with light cement hazing, where a residual film has been left by grouting, and are more or less ineffective against heavy staining.

In this situation the cause of the efflorescence must be found and eradicated, because otherwise the unsightly salts will continue to form and more serious damage could occur because of the water ingress. Treating Efflorescence on External Walls Oxalic Acid - nasty stuff, as it's highly toxic, and it's not easy to find. It's more commonly used in the woodworking trades to bleach or whiten wood, but it is quite effective at removing heavier rust stains from concrete and some types of stone. It may come as a proprietary "rust remover" in which case you should follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. The efficacy of these products is highly variable and they MUST be tested on an inconspicuous area prior to use to ensure that the paving is not damaged or discoloured by their use. SHAKE WELL BEFORE USE. Do not dilute. Completely cover the rust stain with the product. Leave to act for 15 minutes. The product colour will change to a deep purple as it reacts with the rust. Once the indicated time has elapsed, remove the residue and rinse the surface thoroughly with plenty of water and leave to dry. Repeat application until the stain is completely removed.This treatment usually works with normal staining, depending on how you define "normal staining". Awkward or heavy staining may need two or three treatments, and in exceptional cases, it may be necessary to reduce the dilution of Sodium Hypochlorite to a ratio of 2:1 (2 litres of water to 1 litre of NaClO).

There may be some occasions when it is more efficient or cost effective to have the materials shipped direct from our suppliers to the customer.

Materials delivered direct from the manufacturer.

Once your efflorescence issues have been fully cured the next job is to repair any damage that’s been caused by it. Damaged Wall Plaster – How to Rectify Use a Membrane lining system which will protect the new surface from the salts in the materials beneath it. You can read more about using a lining system where you have an efflorescence problem in our lining damp walls project here

Some natural stones will appear darker after treatment, as the product continues to work following the initial application. This is normal and the darkening effect will gradually subside. If the stain is proving impossible to shift, consider replacing the contaminated area of paving. For cleaning oil from plain, trowelled concrete: Re-plaster to the correct Specification for a damp wall If you are re-plastering it is important you do NOT use modern, lightweight Gypsum-based plasters as you will find the salts will cause damage againWall Mesh Membrane can be used to form a barrier between the salts in the wall and the new wall covering How to Treat Salting on Plaster After testing on a small area, apply the solution to the surface and spread out evenly. For external applications garden sprayers can be used. Prevention is better than cure, so put a cardboard or wooden 'drip tray' underneath any leaky engines. Note that tarmacadam will degrade if contaminated with oil or a thin, oil-derived product such as petrol, diesel or hydraulic/brake fluid. This damage can not be treated. You may have to repair or replace seriously affected areas. A further handy tip for heavy staining is to pre-wash the affected paving with "OxiClean", a product more normally associated with domestic laundry. The most effective treatment for efflorescence and free lime staining on external wall surfaces is time as the natural weathering of the surface will remove the staining if you are patient.