Agree with an earlier poster it sure looks like efflorescence, which is kind of a salt that is pulled out of masonry and other walls by water evaporating on the surface - very common in older basements - not a super serious issue, but evidence of a moisture problem.   

. $1600- Roof patching $8000 - Update bathroom,flooring vanity toilet and painting. 1500 - Fireproofingbetween floors $1000 other misc handymentask (fix doors, drywall repair) $1000 next steps Fix fire escape garage doorsfix masonry onoutsidepainting deckfinish roof andfascia repair It has been astruggle.

I have an accepted offer on a house in the Southside of Pittsburgh.  Two of the brick exterior walls are in need of repair.  Can anyone recommend a contractor to get an estimate from so that we can determine if we can...

@Cameron HillebrandWell - I've never owned an old school masonry building, but there's multiple reasons that structures stopped being built that way in the early 20th century. 

Hi Paul,Water pressure from the outside can be powerful and this may not be able to hold it back butif it's coming through the walls you might want to try a water blocking paint such as:DRYLOK Extreme Masonry WaterprooferDRYLOK Etch (surface prep if needed)DRYLOK Fast Plug (Crack Patching if needed)I've seen this used in similar situations.

I would suggest getting it inspected by someone with masonry knowledge, not just some joe shmoe building inspector Justin

AMV, adhered masonry veneer, looks kinda like stacked stone siding, take a closer look and see the mortar was only up  against the house and the material pushed into it, like tile. 

This usually includes but is not limited to PLUMBING, flooring, landscape, utility lines and masonry.

Even getting my start in Athens, Greece, I worked in poured-concrete masonry apartment buildings.

I just hired a masonry company to rebuild an exterior wall and front porch.