Howe Hall has a small case of that embarrassing white stuff, but dandruff shampoo cannot solve the new building’s problem.

The building is suffering from a condition called efflorescence.

Mark Stephenson, construction project manager for facilities, planning and management, said the result of efflorescence is the deposit of chalky white residue on the outer surface of porous building materials, namely brick. The white substance is salt, and it is left when water passes through the brick and is evaporated.

The exact cause of the building’s poor surface is still unknown, but an exploratory team will soon begin the search to find the root of the problem. For now, a targeted swipe with a finger can pick up a little of the salt.

“We do have a problem,” he said. “Water is getting in that wall, and we’re gonna get in there and take care of it.”

Ron Shannon, project coordinator from Forrest and Associate of Des Moines, is heading efforts to repair the building his company built.

“Until we determine the cause of the problem, we really can’t point fingers in any direction as to who’s to blame,” he said.

Some possible causes could stem from engineering and design flaws, blocked weepholes keeping water from escaping as it should, or something as simple as a caulking failure, Shannon said.

Stephenson said the problem was discovered last year, but the university is just addressing the issue now because new buildings often experience efflorescence, often called new building bloom.

Since the problem was found during the warranty period, costs will be covered, he said.

Efflorescence, when left alone, can cause problems 25 to 30 years down the road, Stephenson said. He said Morrill Hall’s brickwork is an example of what could happen in the long run.

Once the weather moderates, Shannon said he will send a team to find the problem.

“We just have to see what it involves and how far it goes,” he said. “It should not take long to solve.”