Efflorescence
The white, powdery mineral deposit left on masonry when water passes through it and evaporates at the surface.
What is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence is not itself damaging, but it is evidence that water is moving through the masonry, and that makes it valuable to an inspector. On a basement wall it indicates hydrostatic pressure or poor exterior drainage; on a chimney it may indicate a missing crown or cap; on a brick veneer it can indicate blocked weep holes or a failed flashing. The useful report language explains what the deposit means rather than simply naming it, and pairs it with the drainage observations that would explain the source — negative grade, downspouts discharging at the foundation, or a missing gutter.