Not fixing the problem of water leaking into your basement will usually guarantee the following to occur, structural erosion, mold, mildew, warped flooring and sheetrock damage. Protect your investment by looking for gutter problem signs.
When gutters cannot do their job, water has nowhere to go except to seep into the foundation of your home. The water pools at the base and eventually will make its way into your basement. You might think your gutters work great, but upon closer inspection, you’ll surprise yourself. It might be time to look into new gutters.
It is definitely time for a change when gutters detach from the home, have annoying seams along the length of the gutter, don’t properly slope to the downspout and absolutely when water begins to “magically” appear in your basement.
The initial investment of new gutters will pay off when you do not have to spend unnecessary dollars on water damage repairs. Bell Seamless Gutters has many options for new gutter installation. Trust us when we say, you are making a sound investment into your home’s future with new gutters.

Pond (Photo credit: chored)

It was an early Saturday summer morning and my sense of safety and security was about to be tested. I was 10 years old, living in a nice house in a discrete neighborhood with a pond.  It was almost like living in a cocoon.  My mom was downstairs cleaning the windows in the kitchen and other areas of the house.  It was then when my mom got a startling phone call from our next door neighbor, Mrs. Denise, and the normalcy of a lazy Saturday morning ended.  While Mrs. Denise and my mom were conversing on the phone, I overheard them talking about some blood that was all over their family’s swing and their back porch.  Being a rational person, my mom attempted to calm her.

“Oh it was probably just a hawk or some animal that got a hold of a little critter,” My mom said.

However, Mrs. Denise clearly was not calmed by my mom as she exclaimed, “But there’s a bloody handprint on our door knob,”

“Denise, you better just call the police”, my mom responded without hesitation. That’s when I felt a little fearful.

When the police officer finally arrived and inspected the crime scene, he found a lot more than just blood on their swing and the handprint.  As he was walking around my neighbor’s      house, searching for more clues, he noticed that the downspout to their gutter was busted and had an excessive amount of blood on the end of it.  The officer also found a set of car keys in the grass a couple feet away from where the downspout had broken.

Three days later on a Tuesday morning my mom was sitting on our mahogany chairs by our round kitchen table eating her usual hearty meal, Raisin Bran. She took her second bite and looked out the window and speculates that something of a round shape is floating in the lake a few feet away from the tip of our back yard.  She postponed seeing what it was and decided to wait until our dog (Treasure) had to go to the bathroom.  My mom tried three times, twenty minutes apart to take my dog out, but he just wouldn’t budge.  She figured he had a stomachache or some illness.  Approximately an hour later a member of TruGreen® came over to fertilize our lawn.  He started in the front yard of our house spraying fertilizer and then proceeded to the back yard to continue.  Moments later he rang our door bell.  When my mom opened it, she noticed him pacing back and forth on our porch shaking lightly.

“Is everything alright?” She asked.

He looked at her. “Ma’am you better call the police right now, because you have a dead body floating in your lake,” he said.

Related articles

• Searchers return to Cabarrus pond (newsobserver.com)
• BODY FOUND: Officials Find Man In Pond (whotv.com)

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• Roof: Inspect roof surface, flashing, eaves, and soffits; repair if needed.
• Gutters and Downspouts: Clean out. Inspect and repair weak points; check for proper slope.
• Chimney or Stovepipe: Clean flue, repair any cracks in flue or any loose or crumbling mortar.
• Siding: Inspect and clean siding and repair if needed.
• Exterior Caulking: Inspect caulking and replace any that is deteriorating.
• Storm Windows and Doors: Replace any cracked or broken glass; tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint if needed. Replace damaged hardware; tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.
• Window and Door Weather Stripping: Inspect and repair or replace if it is deteriorating or if it does not seal.
• Thermostat: Clean heat sensor, contact points, and contacts; check accuracy and replace thermostat if it is not functioning properly.

Taking the time to do check-ups in these areas will save you countless headaches in the future. Protect your investment. Not doing so only hurts you in the long run.

Kusari Doi, which is the Japanese name for rain chains are a beautiful and functional alternative to standard downspouts.

 Here are some unique ideas to utilize rain chains.

1.  Place decorative rocks around the bottom of the chain, whether it is cascading into a receptacle or just going to the ground. The rocks give it a finished look and help to anchor the chain.

2.  Fishing line with tent-like stakes can also be used to anchor a rain chain to the ground.

3.  Water gardens and ponds can be created beneath a rain chain.

4.  Planters look beautiful under a rain chain.

5.  Rain Chains can be use as planters.  They are a great receptacle for orchids.

 6.  Shepherd hooks are a great way to display rain chains.

Rain chains make wonderful and unique gifts both to give and to receive. You can purchase rain chains at RainChains4Less.com  They offer 100% copper chains and accessories at affordable prices.

OR
… splash the rain/
on the thirsty soil?

Now My Downspout Extension is off the Grass

I wanted to lift my Downspout Extension off the lawn so that I could get rid of the dead grass it was creating. I didn’t want to spend any money to do so.

I took a regular coat hanger, bent it into a U shape and made myself a lifter for the flex-a-spout. I wish I had thought of it sooner

Is your basement damp?

There are a number of simple ways to reduce moisture on damp basement walls and prevent this from growing into full-scale leaks or a major mold issue.

Check the Source
Make sure your rain gutters are functioning properly and that the downspouts are clear and open. Use long leaders or downspout extensions to carry rain water far away from the foundation.  Also slope the ground around the wall so that water drains away from the foundation.

Seal Cracks or Gaps
Check carefully for any cracks or gaps, and seal them with a caulking compound designed for your type of basement wall — typically masonry. If problems persist, more extensive waterproofing work may be needed.

Prevention, Not Patchwork
If you decide to obtain an evaluation from a qualified water proofing contractor, beware of recommendations for major work that is only designed to remove water that seeps in, rather than preventing it from infiltrating in the first place. In many cases, it is more effective to redirect the water away from the foundation than to try and stop it from seeping in once it’s there.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at housemaster.com. Or contact:

HouseMaster

Dave Cobosco

Owner/Operator

409 Middlesex Turnpike

Billerica, MA  01821

C:  508-479-1773

O:  866-313-7732

dave.cobosco@housemaster.com

http://www.housemaster.com

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]]> http://westlakemusings.com/2012/08/09/august-9-garage-extension-update/ Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:20:59 +0000 westlakemusings http://westlakemusings.com/2012/08/09/august-9-garage-extension-update/ Oh My!   Workmen are crawling everywhere around here today, like honey bees to a hive. 

Four different crews to be exact.      

We have two guys installing new eves and downspout all around the new garage. 

 This is cool because I have two new rain barrels all ready to be installed at the back of the garage, close to my garden. 

 We have a guy and his ditch witch machine digging a long trench.

  The trench will go from the far side of the house,  across  the back and over to the new garage.   

Electrical cable will be buried there.     (I hope my beautiful trees  survive this intrusion)

An electrician is here today setting up the 100 amp breaker for the garage.   Plus….  Warren and Jordon continue to hang siding. 

Us girls are staying inside,  out-of-the-way.

Clean the gutters on a timely manner. Suppose that it is easier to have gutter guards but when was the last time you cleaned it? Neglect the need to maintain and expect clogged or flooded gutters during the winter or rainy season.

It is better to clean them before it’s too late.

It doesn’t matter if you own the best gutter guard in the world if you can’t provide a proper maintenance. Housekeeping experts agree that gutter covers don’t supply 100% protection against all debris that could ruin your gutter.

It remains imperative to be always on the look out for something suspicious in your roof, even if gutter guards exist already.

Assign specific periods of the year to remove the debris from the gutter that weren’t spotted by its cover. (Fall is the best time of the year!) And never, ever forget to check for issues. Make sure you know how to spot for potential problems and see if there are remedies. Replace the gutter cover ASAP if remedies will not work.

Check your roof for snows during winter. When snow is too plenty, scrape them off!  Use a rake to remove or lessen the snow. Ice dams form when there’s plenty of snow on the roof. Ice piling on any brand of gutter makes it weak due to heavy weight. Don’t trust it too much! Though the icicles look like nature’s chandeliers, the gutters are vulnerable to sagging — it might even fall! With gutters not properly functioning, expect to see water gradually making its way inside your house. When water seeps through, stain is always present. This could cause the gradual rotting of any wooden part of your house.

Water may be a lethal enemy for gutters but it is still not completely safe when it’s summer or autumn. When rain is away, the winds are still here to stay. If your gutters are uncovered, they’re in for a treat! They pile up dried leaves and clog your gutter. In the event of unexpected rain fall, the gutters can’t redirect the water flow. Improper redirection leads to small pools that could cause your structural foundation to weaken, and to crack in the long term

Holes and leaks in gutters are not difficult to find. Fading colors in your wall hints the presence of moisture. Stains on the sides and downspouts are clues too. Find areas of your home made from wood and inspect if fungi or mushrooms are growing on them. Ceiling or wooden walls are the most common places where you can find them.

Be vigilant with your house and save it from further ruins. Being too lazy to do the job is no longer an option. Either you do it, or have someone to do it for you. It is never too late to act.

There are so many opportunities for us to save our water!  Please take a look.

Leveraging the Landscape to Manage Water by American Society of Landscape Architects

I’ve decided that I don’t really enjoy my voice. It’s pretty annoying. Sorry about that.

I’ve also decided that I’m going to scratch the T-shirt company and focus all of my time creating a Duplicator. What’s a Duplicator? This:

I think my favorite part of that is the framed Hobbes picture on the wall. Here’s a fun fact. The creator of Calvin and Hobbes, an awesome dude named Bill Watterson, decided not to cash in on the merchandising aspect of his beloved comic.   So anything you’ve ever seen other than the books of his comics is an illegal knockoff of his comic. Remember these?

Hard to believe the creator of Calvin and Hobbes wouldn’t approve of proud, American pick-up truck owners using his creation to slander the “other” brand of pick-up truck. Hopefully the idiots who put these stickers on their truck’s window realize that you can get home to beat your wife in a Chevy just as quickly as in a Ford.

That was a decently large digression.

I’m down 3 pounds so far. It’s only been a few days, and it’s easy to get overly excited. Let’s keep an even keel here and just focus on getting through the weekend without pouring BBQ sauce on Sunday and eating it.

Friday I’m working the Porter County Fair again from 12-10pm, and swinging into the office around 10 to do my duties around there. My birfday is on Saturday and I’ll be cleaning the gutters on my house, cutting the grass, and attending a wedding (breadmakers are still good presents right?). I feel like that’s a very adult way to spend my 31st birthday. I’ll just go buy some Big League Chew and Dip-it and get all sugar highed out for the wedding. That’s something a kid would do.

It’s all about balance.

I’m excited for my friend Ryan. He’s starting a weight loss/stop smoking/no drinking month in August and I’m really looking forward to reading and posting about his progress too. Speaking of August. That’s coming up right around the corner. Have you thought about adding something to your August? Maybe giving up a vice for the month? Doing something to make yourself feel better besides tons and tons of meth?

I’ll be honest, I’ve been ever so slightly overwhelmed over the past few days. Then I randomly remembered I’m physically made of WIN. It’s just time to f*cking buckle down and be better than I’ve ever been right? Holy shit that sounded whack. Remember when ‘whack’ was a thing?

You know what else used to be a thing? Back in the day when I lived in the old neighborhood, my friends and I would go swimming in my parents’ pool. We must have been like 10ish? For whatever reason we thought it was hilarious to stand in the shallow end of the pool and jump and dive into the water, trying to mimic a whale or dolphin. The hilarious part (to us anyway) was that we would pull our swimming trunks down so our butts were showing and we would call ourselves “buttoxious whales”.

There was a lot of randomness in tonight’s post. I promise to get back to the boring shit about exercise and diet tomorrow. Maybe. We’ll see how I feel.

I’ll leave you with this. These leg workouts are brutal. Just brutal. The last time I think I made this big of a mistake committing to something was either dating Shark Tooth Sheri in college, or that one time that I read a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book.

Stupid timeless existence.

Found another picture from Saturday’s ridiculousness. Hey tubby, try not to eat the log. On the plus side, look at those manly tree trunk legs!

I’m pretty sure all of the vegan food in my fridge has gone bad. I should probably go to the grocery store to replace it with actual food. Today I ate a Nutra-grain bar. That’s it for my day. Tonight I had a steak and some corn and some mac and cheese. That’s it. I think my calories are right around 1000 for the day. I’m just really tired today and I have no real reason for it. I don’t have an appetite, and I’m really tired. Maybe some of my awesome spilled out accidentally. I think a good night’s sleep is what Dr. Ben is ordering. Before that, here’s this:

I went out on to observe the best estimator in the business today on the job, and while over in Porter County, were inspecting a downspout at a house, and we see a bird’s nest. There was a baby bird hanging upside down, flopping has little ass off, trying to get unstuck from his nest.

We (by we I mean I took the pictures) played vet and cut the twine/string/whatever that was wrapped around the little dudes feet, and he’s expected to make a full recovery. If a stray cat doesn’t eat him first I guess.

FYI, baby birds that are touched by humans are just fine and are not shunned by their mothers. That’s just something someone made up, probably to keep people from manhandling birds. Look, Cracked.com did some looking around too!

I love cracked.com, very useful stuff.

Speaking of cracked…I still feel cracked in half (see what I did there? TRANSITION!) from the mud run on Saturday. My body is still trying to get over it. It probably didn’t help that I tossed in a leg workout today while still being sore, but you know what they say…

Actually I don’t know what they say, I’m too sore to think about what they say. Probably something clever.

For those of you keeping track at home for some insane reason, I started the 100 day challenge weighing in at 257 pounds. Two days later and I’m currently 255 pounds. It’s far to early to call that “real weight loss”, but technically, it is. Small victories.

small victories

Due to me taking over all of the estimates for the fambiz (that’s a thing that I say now), I’m unable to go to noon hoops anymore. I miss it dearly. I love me some noon hoops. Here’s hoping I figure something out. It’s much easier to lose weight when you exercise, and I choose basketball over everything else because it doesn’t FEEL like exercise.

That’s it for tonight, folks. I am le tired. I will leave you with one of my all time favorite internet videos EVER. It is definitely NSFW (language):

]]> http://alexialandarch.com/2012/07/15/watch-the-rain-garden-do-its-thing/ Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:30:44 +0000 Alexia Landscape Architect http://alexialandarch.com/2012/07/15/watch-the-rain-garden-do-its-thing/ Watch the Video:  Semiramis Studio’s garden at CNT-E

The Garden at CNT Energy during a rainstorm with the newly diverted downspout water going into the garden!

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You won’t hear me complaining though. Bonus, it should make the gardening work (weeding) tomorrow, that much easier.

Linking up my weekly cell phone photos!

I got this adorable hat from GroopDealz and the petal pusher from The Pleated Poppy.  My first time wearing it and I’m in love!!

Had a lunch date and then a meeting with my favorite guy.  Love.  <3

Went to the eye doctor and saw these Roxy glasses.  I ended up going with a pair from Sam’s Club that have Transitions lenses.

While at the Drs office I saw this Highlights magazine and it reminded me of when I used to get them in the mail.  And, yes!, I did look for all the hidden pictures and I did find them all!!!   It must be the kid in me!!!  =)

If your car is broke down, don’t fret!!  Just take the tractor!!

Lunch of champions!!  Miss Vickie’s Jalapeno chips and chicken noodle soup.  mmmm…

I accidentally cut my thumb and got this band aid from the first aid kit.  It was strange that the band aid was blue but it worked out great for my weekly photo challenge which you can see here.

The rain had been overflowing in our gutters.  We tried to clean them out but it still was overflowing.  So we took down this one and replaced it with a new one.  This picture helped me know what pieces I needed at Home Depot.

My new favorite breakfast food.  Chobani greek yogurt and Honey Bunches of Oats Just Bunches.  mmm….!!!

Saw these whale studs at a store in the mall.  They’re so cute!!  I really want to get them but I decided to hold off for now.

Isn’t this camera so cute?!?!!?!  I just love it!  Since I didn’t want to spend the money this picture will just have to do.

I had some Key Spouse training Thursday night.  It’s the beginning of a new…life.  Haha.

Other things going on this week:
We stayed in and watched the third season and part of the fourth season of Chuck. That’s about it. We’re pretty boring here. =)

Hope your week was great. Happy Friday!!

edited with instagram

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Many property owners are not concerned with yard drainage until they have a  problem. Water naturally follows the path of least resistance to lower  elevations and problems arise when original pathways constructed by the builder  become blocked or were inadequate from the beginning.

Erosion: In addition to the issues associated with standing  water, water moving too quickly off your property causes problems as well. As  raindrops fall on your lawn, if there is sufficient intensity, the impact will  dislodge small particles of soil which can then be carried off by the rain as it  flows. This soil will either be carried off to sewers or deposited in another  area of your yard, depending on your drainage conditions. Over time, original  drainage measures, such as ditches and trenches, can become filled with soil,  defeating their purpose and redirecting how water moves on your property.  Erosion is accelerated where plant cover is sparse and spaces between plants  become larger, leaving no protection for your soil during intense rains. Proper  grades and slopes stop water from carrying away your soil by keeping water  runoff at an acceptable rate. Slowing down water that is running off too quickly  gives soil particles time to settle out of the water and back onto the ground  before being transported too far away. Additionally, healthy plant life with  deep roots protects and holds on to your soil.*

Your house would probably be better off without gutters if they simply dump  water in concentrated areas right next to its foundation. That’s what happens  when downspouts terminate with only an elbow or a splash block at the bottom.  You’ll find some effective solutions below;

Add a surface extension

If foundation plantings or ground cover camouflage the downspouts, add a  length of horizontal downspout, PVC or flexible drainpipe to the bottom of the  existing downspout to extend it at least 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 m) away from the  house. If necessary, drive downspout-extension stakes into the ground to support and  hold metal extensions in place, and place  a rock or concrete splash block at the end to reduce soil  erosion

Install an automatic extension

Installation procedures vary with the system, but typically you must shorten  the downspout. You can do so with the downspout in place, or remove and  reinstall it. Slip the downspout into the end of the extension  device.  Mount the device to the wall with screws as directed by the manufacturer. For  stone, brick and other masonry walls, drill a hole for masonry anchors that will  accept the mounting screws. The weight of the water collecting in the extension  eventually lowers it to the ground, and it springs back up slowly as the rain  stops.

**Note: We do not recommend burying downspout extensions, or connecting them to underground weeping tile as this can increase the moisture content in concentrated areas of the yard and cause back up problems during colder months if the sub-surface lines freeze.

Read more:  How to Redirect Rainwater From a Downspout | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_115826_redirect-rainwater-downspout.html#ixzz1Yaacvnf2

*Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/3113773