efflorescence on garage wall for years.

Hello,

I’ve had efflorescence showing up on my garage wall (just above the floor) for about 10 years. Finally decided to dig outside today to see if water was the cause. I placed a piece of tape on the level to mark where the foundation wall ends (pics included).

What I found:

Soil is mostly clay and was pretty wet when I dug it up.

The area is awkward — three walls meet here (house wall, porch wall, and stairs), so drainage isn’t straightforward.

My current thought:

Apply a rubberized foundation seal on the outside.

Add patio pavers to slope wate away and prevent water going deeper in the ground.

Questions:

1. Is sealing + redirecting water enough, or do I need something bigger like a French drain?

2. Is the wall likely to be structurally at risk after all these years of efflorescence or in the future?

3. Any tricks for drainage in a tight spot with 3 walls and stairs?

I Appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

https://imgur.com/a/xuFWULh