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Builder Buries Downspouts To Aid Parched Mongolia

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

 

Dateline Northern Virginia:  In a move unprecedented in building history, a Northern Virginia builder, too humble to be named, has decided to bury one downspout on every new house built. 

This one fabulous yet ordinary downspout will be dedicated to providing water to a parched region of the world, Mongolia.  It will discharge its water into a tube sent directly there.  Such a thing has never been attempted before.

When reached for comment, Lead Supervisor, "Skate," said: "Like, yeah, you know, um dude, I mean they are like thirsty there.  We wanna like give back y'know."

When asked what part of Mongolia the water was directed to Skate did not know.  In fact he didn't know exactly where Mongolia is, but was sure the downspout goes right there.

These photos show the buried and dedicated downspout on this particular house, both before sod and then again after the carefully-cut sod placement.

"We want it, to um, like look good for the buyer, you know, so the sod is cut just right," Skate said.  "Now is the perfect time of year boink that sod down dude!"

When reached for his comment, local Mongol leader, one Genghis Khan LXXXVIII, had this to say, "Zov, zov, bi camd hapt khairtai!  Minii zurkh zovkhan Amerik I toolooh zhokhildogd.  Sain baina uu hun labdd uuchlaarai bayartai zugeer!  Udahgui uulziya, daraa nandartailaa medeghui yamar unetei we!"

Translated that says, "Yes, yes, our lives are changed forever!  We are ecstatic with the advent of water from the wondrous and charitable American home builder.  Our people here in Hun Valley will be forever grateful!  Now we can drink dihydrogen monoxide from plastic bottles like the rest of the world!"

A close up of the bottles sent to be used for this newly-found water can be seen here.

"Yo, bayarlalaa bi zamzarilik Amerik hun, hun!" Genghis was heard to say.

Translated that means, "Yo, that is one really handsome American dude, dude!"

With that, and a broad smile and twinkle in his eye, he turned on his steppe horse and rode off, bottle in hand. 

Skate could not be reached for comment as to just how those bottles got to Mongolia.

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(96)

Gloria Matthews
Principal Property Brokers - Vancouver, WA
MAKING CLARK COUNTY HOME

I just recently ran into a "burried downspout", on a 3 year old, high end luxury home.   I got "in progress" pictures of the house, during the construction phase and they had changed the direction of the gutter flow from a previously designed (flow back towards house an into system), to flow away from house and new downspout.   well at the bottom of the new downspout...it was burried about 3 inches.   SHAME ON THEM.

we happened to be having a "perfect storm" day with high winds and 4" rain in 4 hours... on the day of the inspection... so they found "water under the house".   The water management specialist was happy to quote new drainfields under the house, cut under the foundation and a new dry well and sump pump.

Aaaaah, lets test the existing system and check the downspouts I said, before we spend 5k.  Turns out there were 3 blockages (pine needles), and the burried downspout.   Repairing (650.00) remedied the problem...  and yes, I did get my hands WET and DIRTY!  and went under the house myself a half dozen times.

 

Jan 14, 2012 05:10 AM
Ann Wilkins
Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty - Oakland, CA
Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont CA

So you are saying that the buried downspout just drains into the ground - no drainage system taking the water to the street?  Why oh why would they do that?  There has to be a reason.  Are they trying to fool buyers into believing there is a drainage system?

Jan 14, 2012 05:27 AM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Jay, you just can't make this stuff up. Like the recent lady that called the police because the drug dealer sold her sugar instead of crack. As a sidebar, how many Chins are in China?

Jan 14, 2012 06:22 AM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Since it passed the local inspector; but not you, what is the builder going to do to remedy the problem!

Jan 14, 2012 07:42 AM
Paul Whitehouse
BEX Realty LLC - Melbourne, FL
Realtor, SFR

In the U.K this downspout would have been buried a couple of feet with some hardcore at the bottom and called a soak-away and was first used in remote villages before mains water and sewer. Over here it would probably turn into a sinkhole!!

Jan 14, 2012 08:15 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Dave - I'm sorry you and your office are offended.  I truly am.  This is intended as a fun post to slam something else, not Mongolia.

But, since you bring it up answer me:  there are many parched regions in the world.  Tell me what it is about my background that I would select Mongolia?  And have you ever spent any time in a yurt?  A real tribesman would call it a ger, not a yurt, but westerners seem to like the yurt word.  And again, tell me, what is it about a yurt that I find to be very personally spiritual?  And why!

There are a lot of things in the world that bring great offense.  In my opinion one of them is racism.  And it really bothers me when the word is thrown around  when none exists because it has truly watered down the word that now it means virtually nothing.  People throw around the word as if there is some superiority in thought or action, and if it wasn't so offensive to me that they do so, in and of itself it would be humorous.  So get real, my friend, you know nothing about my background!  And you seem to know little about racism.

Here's something else that might offend you and your office.  It's from a few years ago, and also intended as fun.  Let's see what you think:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/817441/i-discriminate-every-day-i-really-do-

And since you've been so nice, I will let you clean up the grammar in your comment.

Jan 14, 2012 08:42 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Gloria - I am not a fan of buried downspouts in any fashion.  There is too much that can go wrong to clog them up!  Just as you say, the direction changed, and what was thought to be a good idea really was not.  And, as you say, blockages can happen easily - debris, animals, toys, etc.  Again, I am not a fan of buried downspouts!

It is a simple oversight Ann, that they will have to correct.  Given where it is, it really only needs to drain onto a splash block.  There were a lot of oversights on this new construction, giving me lots of blog fodder.

I hear you Winston!  You can't!  There are a lot of Chinns in China.  I have a good friend here named Chinn!  Actually, and dating back many dynasties, the word China means "middle," or "center."  They thought, and old timers think, China is the center of the universe.  No kidding!

Steven - simply raise it up and drain it onto a splash block.  I pointed it out to the supervisor before I left (and the one on the house next door) and told him I would have some fun with a blog post. 

Paul - I have never seen one of those, but we use a technique in some circumstances here called a French drain.  Sounds like the same principle.

Jan 14, 2012 08:50 AM
Julie Babcock -Nook & Cranny Home Inspections
Nook & Cranny Home Inspections Tonawanda, NY - Tonawanda, NY

Awesome, dude! ;)  My inspection today had downspouts aimed at drain pipes that were obviously clogged as they were overflowing; I think we can donate some water, too!

Jan 14, 2012 11:00 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Jay, loved this post, you must have been quite the comedian in school ;-)

Jan 14, 2012 11:27 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

So... let's think about this. If that water went to a space under the law that was filled with rock, could it sub-irrigate? Or maybe there's a pipe that goes all the way to a garden or shrub area?

Just sayin' - this could be somethng useful if it's done correctly. However, I do get what you said about possible blockages...

Sorry about the person who was offended by your humor. I'm offended by those who are always looking for a reason to be offended!

Jan 14, 2012 11:54 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

So they were just to lazy to cut the down spout a few inches shorter?  Perhaps they brought in some fill after they had the down spouts in?

Jan 14, 2012 12:29 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

great, entertaining blog...it is about time that Mongolia received more of the world's attention!!!

Jan 14, 2012 12:52 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks Julie.  When I see stuff like this it is time to have some fun.  I am not a fan of buried anything when it comes to roof drainage, for the reason you say!  It really pays to inspect during rainstorms!

Chris - when my daughter meets new people and has them over, she wants me to tell stories...

Marte - there are those who are offended by what most consider humor, but I am surely not trying to give offense.  This was a fun post.  I picked Mongolia because of my background.  It could easily have been the Kalihari folk, or Laplanders.  This particular downspout just butted into the ground.  It could have gone no where.  I just had some fun with it.  It's an easy fix.

Gene - the roof guys probably did not know what the grade guys were going to do.  But surely they could see the level of the driveway, which was in at that time!

Paddy - I love Mongolia.  And the people.  But it's true, they can really use some water!

Jan 14, 2012 10:08 PM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Jay,  If that soil is anything like Baltimore clay those downspouts will back right up the gutters with the first sprinkle!

Jan 15, 2012 10:53 AM
Fred Sweezer Sr. CMI, LLC.
Hud Certified 203K Consultant - Long Beach, CA
HUD 203k Consultant

We are talking about well water for sure!

Jan 15, 2012 02:20 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bob - not being that far away, it is!  Maybe even clayier (there, I just invented a word).

Fred - should it go into a well!  This was just a basic oversight and easy to fix.  But the better time to do it is before the soil gets finished!

Jan 15, 2012 10:14 PM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

That sounds like a noble cause.  I'm going to drill a hole in the slab of my basement floor and direct the water softener discharge through it, just to do my part.

Knowmsayin?

Jan 17, 2012 01:41 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I'm sure it will work Reubs.  They can make salt water taffy with it!

Jan 17, 2012 10:03 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Pretty tongue in cheek. You were thinking. Someone else wasn't.

Oct 14, 2012 02:22 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It was a fun one to write Wayne, and yet make my point.  It was not intended to be anything but funny, and yet it offended a couple of people!  You can't please them all!

Oct 14, 2012 05:11 AM