Elaine Manes has a "thing" about lions (a much bigger thing about roosters---but I won't go into that). I am hoping that she will be able to tell me why I have a lion in my basement and what I should do about it.
What do I feed it?
How do I make it go away?
Can, I make it go away?
Perhaps she could use it as staging?
I have been known to "doctor" a photo for effect, now and then, but I swear-----I have done nothing to this photo----short of cropping it a little. Steve and Barbara will probably tell me that I need to get back on my "meds," but it does kind of look a little bit like a lion doesn't it? Please tell me it does-----I hate "mother's little helper."
This lion has a name (as well as a mane). His name is Efflorescence (also what his mane is)----kind of a funny name for a lion----but not as funny as living in a basement in Seattle (or Maine).
Efflorescence is created by the salts that form on the surface of concrete from the evaporating moisture.
So, what the lion is saying is, "There is moisture running out of my nose." As the moisture moves through the concrete, it may follow a wire form-tie (as in this case), a crack, or a cold joint----or just move through the concrete itself. Regardless of the pathway, when the moisture evaporates from the surface, the salts that the moisture has picked up on its way through the concrete, gets deposited on the surface. We call these deposits "efflorescence."
To get rid of the "lion," we have to stop the flow of moisture through the foundation. When you see efflorescence in your basement, it is a good indication of missing and/or non-functional drainage systems around the outside of the foundation---or sometimes defective water supply piping like sprinkler systems etc. Especially problematic is termination of downspouts that dump all their water next to the foundation instead of away from the home or to proper drainage pipes.
It is very common for home owners to finish-off basement spaces that have this condition without doing anything about proper drainage at the exterior. As an inspector, I hate finished basements in homes built prior to the early 70's. Before then, it was highly unlikely that proper attention was paid to the drainage around the home. Obviously, homes like this are vulnerable to hidden moisture issues-----including mold. I will often quiz my buyers 
as to their plans for the basements of these homes. They often express a desire to finish off the basement space. My advice to them is to always take care of the exterior drainage issues first----you really don't want lions inside your walls.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Cute one, Charles! I wondered where this one would lead us!
Great informative post, and entertaining to boot!
Better living through chemistry......That's all I'm saying..............and, thanks for the blog. I have read several of your lately and have now subscribed. I appreciate the info. Lew
Patricia, glad you liked it:)
Pam, thanks
Lew, thanks for the comment and thanks for subscribing----enjoy!
Naw, it's a baboon! Like that one in Lion King!! See the narrow eyes? The long snout? My kids would remember the character's name... Funny, what else have you seen in the walls??
Bob & Bonnie----I could go along with baboon----at least I am seeing something:) Efflorescence is a little different from spalling. In spalling the whole surface breaks away and can be a structural concern. Efflorescence is primarily cosmetic.
Nice blog that is entertaining and informative. I guess you have bad basements in Washington too. I was in a basement here, and we have so very few, with some clients and I mentioned all the rust and ugly stuff in it. He replied that they are the same up north! Surely he was wrong.
P. S. Your meds might have lost a little strength. Double up to keep from hallucinating.
Ok what's next? Will you be telling us you see a shadow of Mother Theresa in your garage ceiling?
Just kidding. It does kinda look like a lion with a runny nose.
Charlie, I think you should cut it out and sell it on Ebay!
Charles - Steve and Barbara will probably tell me that I need to get back on my "meds,"
Sorry Charles I have to agree with Steve and Barbara.
Jack
Barbara, I will double the meds but it seems like at least some people also see the lion:)
Kevin, you never know.
Leslie, one probably could
Jack, dang----back to the pills
They are just humoring you because you are so likable. Besides, they sell a lot of those meds to a lot of people. : )
Charlie...and I thought I was bad! After having a few drinks with friends on our patio I heard a noise and proclaimed that we must have monkeys living in our woods! Like I said, I had a few drinks! To this day everybody reminds me of the monkeys!
Lions, monkeys, where are the bears oh my! cheryl(pro-meds)willis
Barbara----haven't had to resort to the meds since Steve sent the raccoon UPS.
Carol, you know what they say about people that think they hear monkeys:)
Cheryl, do you like bears or something?
Hi Charles - Informative post. Those missing downspout extensions are so common. Thanks for the info.
PS Ref: to the early 70's - does this mean that perimeter drains weren't common before the early 70's? Just curious. Thanks!
I have seen so many disapointed people who thought that if they put up walls and added rooms their basement would be great. Not so good when the water moves in. Then it just wrecks all the things they built in.
At foist I thought that it was a toilet seat gone bad and I thought holy crap, what has Charles done now? Now I see the error of my ways...
Nice pic. Gutters, gutters, gutters I don't think we can say it enough. 9 times out of 10 if you have water in your basement, in this part of the country, you have a gutter/downspout issue.
Thanks good info
Margaret, they were very common----just not done to today's standards. They often served as drainage for the foundation as well as the roof water. This resulted in them becoming plugged with roof debris. They were also very vulnerable to roots and collapse because of the types of materials used and the methods of installation.
Steve, WAY too often
Michael----funny!
Jim, the NW is famous for these issues related to poor roof drainage control
Charles, I have seen this in the shape of a snake about 6 inches around the entire basement. A week later the whole basement has been painted a light Grey...
Charles - Love reading your posts. I just realized I hadn't subscribe yet! Yikes ~Rita
Paul, yup, people love to cover this stuff up:)
Rita, thanks for subscribing-----don't feel bad, there are only 109,013 that have also not subcribed yet:)
Sounds like the items have been addressed if the selling agent is trying to get you to return. Usually that's all most buyers want. But buyers have the right to walk away from a contract and receive all of their earnest money if they believe a property is more heartache than it's worth. A seller can delay earnest money in this situation but it'll be returned eventually. How ugly.
Hi Trunda----nice to see you, how did you manage to make this comment to this post----doesn't it go with today's post?:)
Just had a client with a finished basement have to redo all of the drainage all the way around the house before selling it. Wish the owners before would have done it before finishing.
Anna, that would have been a good plan to have done it ahead of time:)