During a recent chat with my mom, she asked what our next project on the list was. I stated that we were now in the "Have-to-dos" stage. A few months ago, I wrote a social story called "My choices and My have-to-dos" for a little friend at work that went something like "I can choose who to play with at recess. That's my choice. I have to listen to my teacher. That's my have-to-do."
Chris and I need one that is the more grown-up and homeowner-like version. "We can choose what duvet cover to put on the bed. That's our choice. We have to clean out the gutters and extend the downspouts. That's a have-to-do." This is just one of the many have-to-dos on the list.
During our house inspection last July (prior to closing), the inspector told us we'd need to extend the gutter downspouts because they ended right next to the house which could cause water seepage in the basement, especially since the dirt marvel of a driveway was slightly pitched toward the house. Um, did we listen and do this last fall. What? And not have this first-time homeowner experience to share? Ha! Gotta have something to blog about. So, you'll never guess what happened. The basement got a bit damp in a few corners. What corners you ask? If you guessed the ones with the short downspouts on their outside wall, give yourself a star. Doh!
Here's a few pics of the downspout situation prior to attack of the homeowners...
Pretty sure the crumbling cement slide was not doing what was intended...(Opposite side from driveway)
See how the limestone foundation looks kinda wet? It's because it is. See the little plastic extender tray? Pretty much just for show.
I spy a problem, my gut tells me water is supposed to come out the end of the downspout, not up at the top...
Wasn't fibbin' was I? Wet limestone with a bit o' funk. What you can't see is the pond at the end of the tray. Any one for a swim?
So Sunday, huh? The sun was back out. The snow (oh, yes) was melted. It looked nice and warm outside in the afternoon. Well, let me tell you, looks are deceiving. But homeownership called and we answered. Yes, we. I was ladder-holder extraordinaire while Chris scooped slimy leaves and sludge out of the gutters with his bare hands. I was also diver-outer-of-the-way-of-said-sludge as the wind whipped it in directions not anticipated, kind of like dodgeball but with dirty brown heaps of goo. A few pics of the process...
Thank goodness for neighbors with extension ladders (and lawn mowers, and painting tools, and the list goes on)! And husbands who are not afraid of heights or murky goo...
See that in Chris' hand? That would be why he's the man of the house, because he handles the down-right dirty, manly jobs.
Yummy. This was only part of the treasure. When the bucket was full, it was raining "compost" on the flower beds.
We opted for an inexpensive temporary solution to extend the downspouts, thanks to Home Depot. This spring/summer we plan to dig trenches to extend the downspouts underground prior to tackling the driveway. But for $16, the basement should stay a bit drier.
Look a bit like a bendy straw! Or enormous earthworms. I'm just waiting for the day I run one over...
