The results of computational investigations dealing with the influence of moisture and salt on the effective thermal conductivity of the masonry wall were presented. The investigation was carried out on the basis of mathematical modelling of heat transfer in capillary-porous materials. The dependencies between the thermal conductivity of the wall and the content of moisture and salt, as well as the physical state of salt were described. The assessment of the degree of salt influence on the thermal conductivity of masonry wall for the admissible exploitive moisture content was performed. Practical formulae were obtained and presented for realistic estimation of the effective thermal conductivity of ceramic brick and masonry wall. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.