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See this too often.

By
Home Inspector with Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

I do.  I see this much too often in one form or another.

rain water damage downspout diverter

It doesn't take long for this to happen.  All you need is a situation like the one above and Spring Rain. If the house isn't too old then you might need a few seasons without repair, but eventually you'll see it too.  Unfortunately, the damage in the above picture is severe enough that it isn't going to be an easy, cheap fix.  Unlike the fix the prevention is much cheaper and easier.  For every downspout one $10 purchase will do the job of redirecting the water away from the house. 

Now don't get me wrong, this may not be the perfect fix, but a little is better than nothing.  The perfect fix is to install underground drainage to an area in your yard where the water can be dispersed or to the street or stormsewer (if local ordnaces permit).  The idea is to get the water away from the house or pay the price.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services, Clayton

Quality Building Inspections

Marzena Melby
Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty - Richfield, MN
Realtor, Twin Cities Minnesota Real Estate

Jack,

Yes, I do see it frequently.  Often, people move it away for mowing, or something like that, and they forget to replace it.

May 12, 2010 09:21 AM
Randy Dodd
Rosanna's Realty - Abilene, TX
ePro, GRI, TAHS

Yes I seen that a lot  too, and its preventable too.

May 12, 2010 09:31 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

When they get the heavier bill you get the "oops" i should have put it back in it's place.

May 13, 2010 10:15 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Marzena - If they only knew what damage a little water can do.

Randy - Very inexpensively preventable.

Robert - Wish I could convey to all the homeowners the simple things that could save them thousands in the long run.

 

May 14, 2010 07:24 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Geez, Jack, don't we see this every day?  Or the downspout that drains into the buried drain tile, but misses it by 6 inches!?

May 16, 2010 10:28 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Your right Jay, well almost everyday.  It's just too easy to fix to let it go.  My favorite is the one that creates a moat around the house because it drops directly in the yard.

 

May 17, 2010 06:32 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Hey, at least you have a downspout! Probably 75% of the homes I inspect don't have downspouts "because it doesn't rain much." Ha!

May 18, 2010 05:21 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Russel,  Downspouts in Ohio aren't a luxury.  haha

May 18, 2010 09:43 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Jack.. This is a simple fix.  Why is it that homeowners can spend thousands for a home, but not $10.00 to maintain it?  Sad, isn't it.

May 23, 2010 12:46 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Valerie, it is sad.

May 24, 2010 05:46 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Many home owners, and even builders, here think that because we live in a desert climate, gutters and downspouts aren't needed. For some reason they forget that every few years an El Niño gives us a lot of rain, much more than your typical desert.

May 29, 2010 04:03 PM