See also:
|
Downspouts
If you are having problems with water in
your basement or crawl space, one thing to
check is that your downspouts are leading
rainwater away from your foundation. Ideally,
downspouts should release water four to ten
feet away from the house. Sometimes, a large
and properly sloped splash block at the end
of the downspout will solve the problem.
If you want something more stylish than a
plain block of concrete, consider getting
a decorative block that comes in colors,
with a design, or one that looks like a statue.
Often found in specialty stores and on-line,
these can add a touch of whimsy and interest
to your house and yard while preventing water
collecting in gullies close to the house.
If a longer distance in needed, you may want
to install a downspout extension. Made from additional downspout lengths,
you need to be sure to get the same color
and size as your current downspouts so they
connect properly. Bands (straps) are available
for attaching the extension to the end of
the drainpipe that can add a decorative note
to the pipes. Longer lengths may not look
pleasing and could cause problems with people
walking around your house and during mowing.
You can avoid these problems with a perforated
plastic sleeve that attaches to the downspout,
unrolls when it rains, and then recoils when
not needed.
Another option is to install
drainpipes in
the ground around your house
and connect
the downspouts to them. This
usually means
hiring a contractor, but is a
most efficient
way to move water away from your
home.
If your downspouts do a good job of draining
water away, but the loud noise of water rushing
through them is a concern, there are some
alternatives to the usual aluminum pipes.
You could replace the downspouts with PVC
downspouts that create less noise. A rain
chain made of copper and brass links and/or
cups gives the sound of a bubbling stream.
Installed from the guttering instead of the
traditional closed pipe system, they offer
a attractive appearance and pleasing sound.
|
|
|
