Having a mild tidy up in the garage (perhaps 20s, concrete floor) and found this fluffy stuff near the wall. Doesn’t look like just dust, surely it’s harmless though? I was wondering if it was salt or something (gets very cold, and presumably damp, in there in winter) – can’t be anything more sinister can it? Yes, I am a bit paranoid about unidentified materials in a new (to us) house…

Thanks for any ideas.

Pic: (click for larger version)

Does it taste salty ?

Looks like mice have been gnawing at something or other to me.

Does it taste salty ?

Shall I start a “what crisps for unidentified salt-like powder?” thread?

😉

Ahh you’ve found your secret stash of coke. I hid it there last month. You snort it in your sleep!! I’ve been watching you with 5thelefants cameras!

Declare it a chemical incident, phone the fire brigade, who will close the road, seal the garage, and then proceed to trample around in the dust, sky news and bbc will be down as well as all the local know sod alls, then youll have the ebnvironmnet agenc, environmnetal health, police etc.

Just make sure you have enoyuught cups , coffee and tea bags for them all.

All because you posted a picture on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you find Admiralable’s coke stash before me perhaps project??
😯
😆

Looks a bit like cavity wall insulation.

Looks a bit like cavity wall insulation.

Not a bad shout but highly unlikely in the garage (breeze block walls) and solid walls in the (20’s) house…

Looks like mineral salts coming out of the concrete through damp. Does it taste of anything?

hobster’s got it… just flood your house and then fire theheating up and you’ll see even more!

Looks like cut/sanded expanded polystyrene, have the gaps between the rafters and top of wall been filled with EP then trimmed back?

my money’s on weaponised asbestos/anthrax complex

that’s clearly a false floor concealing some kind of doomsday cult HQ

that’s clearly a false floor concealing some kind of doomsday cult HQ

Well, we *do* have a bomb shelter attached to the back of the garage so maybe I should try digging the floor up?

They’re stalagmites, just not very big yet.

Ive got that in my outbuilding too, always thought it was some sort of chemical leaching.

sounds like a case of the creeping muff, get out NOW!

Whatever it is it should have been put down at birth, it’s eyes are too close together.

tis effloresence and shouldnt kill you

Looks like eflorescence, salts leaching out of the concrete with damp, the damp evaporates leaving the salt deposits behind.

Anyway, what kind of man tidies up his garage 😯

Just like trout says (I should type quicker! 🙄 )