White gunk - From steps

[Ivor Bigun]

I have some steps which rise up about one metre to an lawned area. They were put in about two years ago by a contractor and are, I think, spot-bedded on a sub-layer of bound sand and gravel (class! ). Almost since day one, following rain, an off-white substance has appeared on the bottom couple of steps where it dries and hardens. Any ideas what this is and is it likely to still be a problem after I've ripped the steps out and replaced them. (part of my impending project) Is it perhaps the salts being washed out of the sand that he used or maybe from the clay in the garden?

[lutonlagerlout]

seek and ye shall find
LLL

[Ivor Bigun]

Well blow me!! I knew about white, powdery efflorescence but not its "soapy scum" form. The reference page you pointed me to clearly indicates that there is no reliable remedy so I dont even know why I'm asking the following question but....
Is there anything I can do about it? I know I cant stop it but I'm about to re-lay the steps so is there perhaps some way of preventing the "soapy scum" oozing through the flags by using some sort of barrier layer for example?
Go on, do your worst. I can take it.

Ivor

[matt h]

keep washing it down regularly and give it a scrub now and then, eventually the eff should disapear...hopefully!:)