Dealing with Salt Damage to Buildings

Salt corrosion on exterior walls is a problem for countless properties on the coast. The battering from salty water is almost an inevitability when your home is a stone’s throw from the sea. But the damage isn't something you have to put up with.

In this post, we’ll explore how to protect your walls from salt corrosion using our innovative cork coating.

Salt corrosion vs salt damage

First and foremost, it’s important to be clear about the difference between salt corrosion on walls and salt damage within the walls.

Salt damage in walls, also known as efflorescence, is where water reacts with salts in building materials like plaster. It’s primarily a damp issue, occurring because of a leak or severe condensation.

This leaves white deposits and marks on your walls which are both unsightly and alarming. While cork can be used as part of a system to resolve this problem, it’s not a standalone solution. On the other hand, sea salt on walls is something cork can be used directly to tackle and prevent…

Preventing buildings from being damaged by sea salt

If your home or commercial property has been battered by spray from the sea, it’s not uncommon for the salt within the seawater to stain and corrode the exterior walls. Wind-driven salt can even strip paint and cement based coatings straight from your home. This can have a huge impact on your property’s kerb appeal, or the overall look of your shop or hotel for example.

The reason it happens is that the salt eats away at most wall materials such as cement-based coatings and paint. Salt stains can be removed using an acid-wash. However, the underlying problem will still remain, and it’s only a matter of time before the same thing happens again.

Tackling the root cause of sea salt on walls

To stop salt stains reoccurring again and again, you need to tackle the root cause – walls which are naturally susceptible to salt. This is where cork comes in. Corksol sprayed cork coating has zero reaction to salt, meaning even if your walls are hit by an endless stream of salty seawater spray, they won’t become worn down and discoloured.

If you want to eliminate the problem altogether, the first step is to remove salts from your walls using a jet wash. They can then be treated with an anti-sulphate to neutralise any salt remaining on the walls. Finally, a full sprayed cork coating will restore your property’s appearance and prevent the problem from reoccurring.

Read this recent case study to find out how our spray cork coating provided a long-lasting solution for a coastal property in the Isle of Man.

Protect your walls from sea salt

If you’re ready to restore your walls and protect them from sea salt damage in the process, it’s time to put Corksol to the test. Our innovative Corksol render provides a natural cork-based coating to eliminate salt damage for good. Find your nearest approved applicator today or get in touch with us for more information.