I have been thinking about the rain showers we have been having. I hate running from house to house, cold, wet, hot, messing with umbrellas. Sometimes clients have their kids and we are trying to keep the children dry as well.
There is a huge bonus to all the rainfall. If you have a house under contract, take the time to go to the property in the rain, especially if you have wood decking (along or near the house). Many times consumers install the decking because the ground doesn't have the proper drainage. The decking allows the homeowner to come out of the house and be elevated above the water. Why does this matter to you? You are about to be the owner! Any negatives or positives you clearly want to know prior to ownership.
Drainage problems I have seen over the years....
1. Wood decking just as you step out of a back door. Sometimes I step up to get on them, so the first step out is on a current patio poured. The benefit of seeing this is seeing the height of the foundation. Many homes built in our area there isn't a very big drop from the foundation to where the patio starts which can allow water penetration into the bricks.
2. Wood decking as you open the door, no step, all one level and you walk on the deck. When I see this typically it is because the foundation is high enough to allow the wood to be adjacent to the foundation/home.
3. If there is a wood deck along the home. I like the length of the board going with the wall so a termite person can have access to the area easily and treat if necessary.
4. I have also seen gutters plumbed into drain lines and the lines are under the decking, not good. How does the current owner maintain the drain?
5. Rainfall off roof lines, slamming into the decking and bouncing up on the exterior wall.
6. Wood decking in the back yard several feet away from the house and the exterior. My favorite!
When I first see a deck, the first thing I look for is drainage problems. How about you?
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