Efflorescence on Black Concrete

Question:

Last week, we poured a band of integrally colored black concrete. It looked great for three days, but then it rained a little the night of the third day, and by the next morning all the black color had disappeared, hidden by a grayish-white surface discoloration. What happened, and how do I fix this?

Deposits of efflorescence make black concrete look grayish-white.

Answer:

This is one of the most common but least understood phenomenons with concrete. Efflorescence is a chalky white salt residue that can occur with any product containing cement.

See our Complete Guide to Efflorescence

As moisture migrates up to the surface of the concrete, it carries along with it calcium salts from within the concrete. When the salts reach the surface, they react with CO2 in the air and form insoluble calcium carbonate. This white, dusty, scaly salt can be minimal or dramatic, depending on the amount of free calcium salt present in the concrete. Exposure to rain, standing water, and sprinklers only make the situation worse, as water triggers the reaction and creates more efflorescence.

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Efflorescence is not as noticeable when it occurs on gray concrete, but even a little efflorescence on colored concrete can be a contractor's worst nightmare. Efflorescence makes red look pink, brown look tan, and black look gray or even white. The good news is that it will eventually go away on its own as the free calcium is depleted. The bad news is that this can take as long as 15 years. And in this situation, you can't wait.

To fix the problem at this point, clean the surface with a mild acid or efflorescence remover (some manufacturers make special efflorescence cleaners) followed by sealing. To avoid the problem altogether on future projects, consider using a colored curing compound or cure and seal to match the color of the concrete.

Exterior Surface Cleaner Removes efflorescence, cement film, lime and mortar residues.

Industra-Seal 117 PLS Breathable densifier that protects from efflorescence.

Efflorescence Cleaner Water soluble formula safe for indoor use.

To learn more about efflorescence, read my other posts: Fixing Stamped Concrete and Fixing Colored Concrete

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Author Chris Sullivan, ConcreteNetwork.com technical expert and vice president of sales and marketing for ChemSystems Inc.