GInstitute Home Improvement and Remodelling

When you have drainage problems, you will need to work on repairs until you correct them. That’s why it’s so important to know what to do whenever water flow gets stopped or stuck up on your roof, or starts to enter your house.

Set a Goal

Examine your drainage trouble and determine if this is something you can fix by yourself. Sometimes, your drainage problem is a simple as a clogged gutter or drain, which merely needs to be cleaned out. Such blocked gutters can cause water to build up in the foundation of your home, which can then lead to a damp basement and potential mold or mildew problems. As a matter of maintenance, always check and clean out gutters and downspouts, and don’t let leaves, twigs, seeds, and other such things build up.

However, if you’re plagued by a creek or ditch, which never fails to overflow after a heavy rain, your options are limited, unless your drainage correction goal reaches beyond correcting your property. In most cases, however, the best solution is to dig yourself a ditch, which gives water drainage the most possibilities before it exits your property.

If a Ditch is Required

Since gravity causes water to flow downward, the end of your ditch should be at the lowest point on your property, and that place where water builds up most during big rainstorms, should be the top. Also, keep in mind that a ditch, which is low in the middle, could lead to a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Consider an Alternative to a Ditch

If you’re set against having a ditch on your property, you may want to consider filling the ditch with gravel. And once you have done so, you might then cover that gravel with particular sorts of cloth or screen, which delay root growth in the gravel. However, eventually root growth in the gravel will slow down drainage.

Consider Using Pipes

You may also choose to place pipes in your ditches. If you do so, keep in mind that if you put in thin-walled pipes to save money and then later need a plumber to clear the pipes, the plumber’s rooter will tear them up.

Be Aware of Drainage Maintenance

After a while, the drainage path you’ve dug might not do the job very well anymore. If so, you can dig another ditch nearby to your original one. However, due to land erosion, this next ditch might require an alternative path.

One problem for parents is trying to keep their teen kids at home, at least some of the time, and away from potential trouble. What better way than to make a home theater room or multipurpose area just for your teen kids and their friends so they spend more time at your place.

When you make your family’s home a welcoming place for them, then you may find your teenager more willing to spend time at home. Providing teens with a safe area in which they can hang out without having you hovering over them like a helicopter parent means they will be more likely to spend time at home.

Respect your budget

Your teen would definitely enjoy an 82 inch TV. However, going with a smaller television in order to add comfortable furniture and new video games can be a wonderful compromise. This also teaches your teen the value of money.

Theme vs. the Basics

Ask your kids if they want a theme based room (based on their design) or if they prefer a basic theater and game room. They may decide on a theme based on a popular video instead of just a popcorn motif. They might even suggest additional stuff like a mini-fridge or a billiard table.

Snacks

If you are going to have teens in and out of your home, snacks are a must. You don’t always have to bake brownies with marshmallows and puffed rice cereals. A cabinet of grab-and-go snacks and a mini-fridge with soda drinks is good enough.

Variety

A ping pong table, billiard table, gaming console, or some other activity besides watching movies can make a family theater room a lot of fun for teenagers. Add some fun props to create a wall photo booth where they can snap pictures.

Strong Furniture

You will want furniture that holds up to a lot of wear and tear. Before buying furniture for your new home theater room, read some online suggestions and consider recliners. Don’t crowd the area with furniture. If you are shipping or storing it, hire a good shipping container.

Respecting the Rules

Let your teens know that they can hang out with their friends without you popping in every five minutes, as long as they do not give you a reason to do so. Teenagers and even young children actually want rules, because it makes them feel loved by their parents or guardians.

One basic and strong rule is the prohibition of alcohol or drugs in your home. Another is the rule about movies that contain objectionable content. Have them tidy up before everyone leaves to go home. Rules are not a way to make things less fun for teenagers. They are guidelines for keeping your teens and their friends safe while in your home.