Whats this white stuff coming from new drywall and surrounding areas?
Background: I had some plumbing work done and old walls cut out from this area. New drywall was put in back in February. Today I noticed white powdery stuff on power outlets — not just in the area directly around the new drywall but other nearby spots.
The drywall on the ceiling has powder on it that I can wipe off with my hands. So do some of the nearby walls that WEREN’T cut out. I already painted (crappily) the wall that was redone and that one isn’t powdering anymore. I’d already wiped it pretty clean.
Is this just leftover drywall dust that’s kicking up around various places, even where there’s no new drywall? Or do I have efflorescence? Is it even possible for efflorescence to come out of walls?
Question from user user176121 at stackexchange
Answer:
It is impossible to tell what exactly that powder is.
Efflorescence would be accompanied with the presence of moisture. You have not indicated any moisture was found.
Drywall work creates fine dust that gets everywhere.
So, an educated guess is that is drywall dust.
Answer from user RMDman at stackexchange
Background: I had some plumbing work done and old walls cut out from this area. New drywall was put in back in February. Today I noticed white powdery stuff on power outlets — not just in the area directly around the new drywall but other nearby spots.
The drywall on the ceiling has powder on it that I can wipe off with my hands. So do some of the nearby walls that WEREN’T cut out. I already painted (crappily) the wall that was redone and that one isn’t powdering anymore. I’d already wiped it pretty clean.
Is this just leftover drywall dust that’s kicking up around various places, even where there’s no new drywall? Or do I have efflorescence? Is it even possible for efflorescence to come out of walls?
Question from user user176121 at stackexchange
Answer:
It is impossible to tell what exactly that powder is.
Efflorescence would be accompanied with the presence of moisture. You have not indicated any moisture was found.
Drywall work creates fine dust that gets everywhere.
So, an educated guess is that is drywall dust.
Answer from user RMDman at stackexchange