Even if your gutters don’t get clogged, it’s possible for water to pool near your foundation and cause damage. Or, if you have a basement the rain water might leak into your home interior. These problems are most likely to happen if your downspouts aren’t configured properly. Diverting water away from your house is critical for proper downspout performance.

Splashblocks are one of the most common water dispersal devices. While they do keep water from digging a trough in the soil at the end of the downspout, they don’t do much to prevent pooling. An extension does a much better job of carrying water far from your foundation. There are several extender options:

Fixed – This is just a straight length of downspout that fits onto the end of the existing spout. It makes makes the spout longer so that the water ends up further from the house.

Flexible – This style can be bent or curved like a bendable straw. It is used to direct rainwater in the desired direction across the lawn – for example, into an area that drains easily into the storm sewers.

Jointed – An elbow style extender can be flipped up out of the way when not in use so you don’t have to mow around it.

Retractable – This sleeve style extender is attached to the end of the downspout and is pushed out by the force of the rainwater. A spring causes it to roll back up after the rain stops.

Collector – A rain barrel is the most frequently used rain collection system. However, it will easily overflow in a heavy downpour. A drainage system that pipes water into a cistern or other reservoir is required if you want to capture a significant amount of rainwater.

Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms for remodeling. That’s because for homeowners who cook, preparation of meals is a highly individualized process. If you don’t usually just pop a Stouffer’s lasagna in the oven or heat your dinner in a microwave, you need a space that is customized to your preferences so you can enjoy cooking.

It’s likely that the kitchen that came with your home isn’t your ideal workspace. However, if you aren’t careful your remodeling project can have disappointing results. Here are some common mistakes people make in this area:

Unrealistic Budget – The chances of coming in under your starting estimate to make all the changes you want are slim to none. If your equity loan or credit line is close to the breaking point, don’t start a project until your financial situation improves. You don’t want to remodel your way into bankruptcy or foreclosure. You also don’t want to be forced to abandon the project partway through because you don’t have the funds to complete it.

Dissonant Design – Your kitchen is a special room, but it isn’t entirely separate from the rest of the house. Keep the architecture consistent with the overall design of your home rather than ripping everything out and building a kitchen that looks like it doesn’t belong.

Meal Planning - Installing a new appliance can often be done in a day if it is the same size as the old one and you aren’t switching from electric to gas. However, the time commitment to replace anything more extensive such as flooring or cabinets can stretch on and on. If you don’t have a place to cook in the interim, you will be stuck with fast food and takeout. Plan ahead for how you will store, cook, and serve food while your new kitchen is under construction.