I was pleased to see the rain. It hammered down from above and I could almost hear the joyous chorus of all the wilted green things as they revelled in the downpour, each heavy drop bringing new life to their thirsty leaves.
It felt good, standing on my front porch, watching the rain, almost a solid body of water, soaking the lawn and washing away the dust that had built up over everything throughout the last heat-spell...It was humid today, had been in the upper 30's (almost 100F) and it hadn't cooled yet, however I, much like the plants, felt good...We needed the rain.
I was smiling as went back inside and on my way to the back door, remarked to Faith that, "this is some legit rain," and then I saw it...
...Rain inside my house. Well, not so much rain as such, rain water to be exact.
Going from my feel-good rain is here vibe to what the fucking fuck, my house is leaking in about a nano-second, I sprang into action grabbing towels to contain the growing puddle. As I did this a glance upwards confirmed the worst...Wet ceiling...Yep, gutters are blocked and the volume of water had overflowed into that section of ceiling...It was streaming down the glass sliding door, the inside, like Niagara Falls to be honest. Swearing profusely I rallied the troops (my wife Faith) and headed outside. src
Three minutes later I was on the roof unblocking the down-pipe leading off that section of roof...In the pelting rain, in my boxer shorts, in my bare feet. A furtive glance at the heavens, and the lightening that the gods threw downwards, gave me little comfort and I whispered quietly asking Zeus not strike me down with a bolt of energy.
[I survived]
As the rain abated somewhat, not that it mattered as I was about as wet as a bloke could be already, I climbed down from the roof managing not to slip and break my neck on the ladder.
[Prognosis]
This section of roof has a down-pipe...But no water was making its way down the down-pipe. It wasn't blocked...There was no bloody hole in the gutter leading down into the down-pipe. So, the water was just building up and up until it reached over the facia-level and spilled over into the ceiling, and subsequently my house.
[Swearing ensued]
I stood below where the down-pipe married up to the underside of the gutter and scratched my noggin. What prick does this sort of work? Down-pipe with no inlet.
[More swearing]
[More head scratching]
Faith could see me working up a pretty good tirade so she left me to it to go and sort out the lake inside our house figuring I had to work some shit out with myself...I managed not to rant though...I don't know how...Just didn't seem any point.
Friday nights are for fish and chips, Netflix, reading books, Lego or some cuddlin' with Faith...WTF was going on with this one? Water in my house? Come on!
[Solution]
My initial solution has been to drill some holes in the gutter to exit the water and prevent it from overflowing back into my ceiling. I was loathe to do so but unfortunately had little choice.
Tomorrow I'll call my gardener and get the gutters all cleaned out...I used to do this myself but with my back issues plaguing me a little it's not something I've done for the last two years.
I'll also get on to the roofer we know and get that pesky pseudo-down-pipe rectified. I'd like to take to the asshole who installed it with an ice pick but well...I don't know who it was.
Stage three will be the ceiling repair which won't happen until it dries out, and the other things are done.
I'm always commenting about life and how it throws up challenges no matter how careful, prepared, clever, strategised or hopeful we are. Sometimes life just kicks us in the goolies...I think just to keep us on-point.
I'm pretty annoyed about this rain-inside scenario and also curious as to why it hasn't happened before...We've had heavy rain in the past years. I can't answer that question though, just make some changes and prepare for the next time life kicks me in the coconuts.
Tomorrow isn't promised - Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default
An original post written by a human
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