Catch it while you can

During the hottest months of the year, rainfall can be pretty scarce, especially in dry parts of the country. Investing in your own rain catcher system can save you money and reduce pressure on the local watersheds. Even if you already xeriscape or have drought resistant landscaping, providing irrigation to these plants is essential during the summer. Some of these water-saving devices are as simple as placing a rain barrel under the downspouts or hanging a decorative chain from the house. Either way, the idea is to collect as much free water during the spring, so you’ll have enough when your landscaping needs it the most.

Rainwater Harvester

It’s like having garden or landscaping water on-demand. This rain catcher system uses specialized rain gutters that collect water and send it directly to a storage tank in your basement. When you want to use the water, a pump inside the tank delivers it to a special spigot that hooks up to any garden hose. These systems usually come with a leaf and debris filter and hold anywhere from 100-200 gallons of water. (more…)

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The most ridiculous thing about my house is…the blatant lack of eaves or overhang on the north side of the house. Sounds wild, I know, but I am new to the desert. Yes I am currently spending the winter months in a Casita in the Mojave Desert in southern California. Sure the average annual rainfall here is less than six inches, but rain it does.

And last week I had the pleasure of experiencing my first good desert rainfall (I got my first earthquake on my first night in town!). Other than making me a bit homesick, it was striking and beautiful. But it also resulted in water dripping directly onto my bed in the middle of the night thanks to some rather ridiculous design.

Our small winter getaway has an exposed beam ceiling with tongue-and-groove pine on top of that. These beams then cantilever out of the exterior walls about one foot, completely uncovered by any eave or overhang. Many years in the hot desert sun have caused quite a bit of cracking and splitting in the beam ends as all moisture has been sucked out of them. This actually allows rainwater to travel through these cracks where they meet the exterior, into the walls and, as it turns out, behind the paint that covers the beams and down onto our bed through a knot in the wood. (more…)

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In some ways your house needs holes in the attic, but when it comes to the pitter-patter of four-legged feet above your head, it’s a different story. Holes in the attic can be caused by a number of things, from wear and tear on the roof over time to the sharp and pesky teeth of greater Rodentia. The first key to plugging holes in the attic is knowing where they are.

Finding the Hole

Unfortunately, the most common way holes in the attic are discovered is only after animals are nesting up there or water comes dripping down into the main floors. Regular inspection of the attic and the roof is good prevention. Also keep tree branches and other access points trimmed back from the roof. There’s no need to make it easy for the invaders.

After the fact, you’ll need to go up there and look for their entry point. Vent screens are a popular place, and an easy fix. Damaged or missing soffit boards are another. Basically, these spots are likely not too difficult to find and are usually the result of materials that are rotting or in disrepair. That’s not to say that squirrels and their cousins won’t chew their way in if they can.

Potential Problems

The problems are self-evident, especially if you’re already hearing the squirrels dance at night. Animals are an obvious problem. They keep you awake, they’ll start a family up there, and they leave quite a mess.

Another problem is the leaky roof, which can lead to a leaky ceiling, which can lead to a major renovation. Again, keeping a good eye on your roof is a good idea. Look for hanging shingles, raised shingles, and sags or weak spots in the roof. To add insult to injury, weak spots caused by water damage are also the best places for animals to chew their way into your attic. (more…)

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