Protecting Our Toronto Watershed

A big concrete and paved jungle like Toronto creates some very unnatural water flow issues in our creeks and ravines. About 70 per cent of the water that falls in the city does not absorb into the ground like it would normally. Most of the city can not absorb water and this is why every time we get a good rain our  streams seem fill to the brim with dirty rushing water.

If you are interested in making a difference in the quality of our streams and lake then you might be interested in looking at a group called Riversides. They are a non profit organization that is trying to make a big difference, one home at a time. They are huge advocates of homeowners containing as much of their rain water on their own property via rain barrels and of course disconnecting your downspouts.

They are located at a little office at 511 Richmond Street West, downtown Toronto.

Parking was a bit tight so luckily I took the little Smart Car!

They have their own custom rain barrel which does not require the conventional Y diverter as this barrel has it built in.

They introduced me to the low pressure soaker hose called Mr Soaker hose which is designed to operate with rain barrels.

You will see some of their rain barrels around town like shown below at the Common Carrot in the Danforth, in Toronto's east end.

If you are interested in learning more about Riversides then check out their website discussing their rain barrels: http://www.riversides.org/index.php?cat=4

If you live in Scarborough, North York or in or near Toronot and are interested having your eavestroughs replaced or a rain barrel installed visit our website at www.eavestrough.ca

Basement Waterproofing

Water in your basement is a common problem in Toronto. The proximity of one house to another, improperly sloped lots, and malfunctioning eavestroughs are some of the the most common reasons for water entering your foundation.

It's important to ensure your eavestroughs are not clogged or overflowing as this water will cause lots of basement problems. You might try fixing your eavestroughs or relocating problem downpipes before you decide to dig. It can be cheaper than digging up the side of your home. Many homeowners will decide to waterproof plus ensure the eavestroughs are up to snuff.

Digging up around your home is a big job. Its a lot of manual labor as most waterproofing companies will shovel all the dirt out to minimize damage to the landscape. Machinery may be quicker but it creates more damage that needs to be fixed later.

It can involve some tight situations.

Getting under decks and porches can be tricky!

It's important the membrane extend around and under the porch. It makes sense to protect your basement  from the outside and stopping the water before it reaches the walls. Battling water problems from the inside might be cheaper but doesn't make as much sense to me. In some difficult situations where exterior work is not possible then it makes sense to work from the inside.

It's important to use quality materials as once they are installed they are going to be buried and not easy to fix or replace if something fails.

If possible reroute or extend your downpipes so that they no longer have to go into these the city sewer system. With some Toronto houses, the downpipes will have to be reconnected if there are no options due to the disconnecting of pipes causing a hazardous situation.

Ensure downpipe extensions are long enough so water flows away from your home and away from your neighbours home if close by.

A reputable company to contact for waterproofing is Watertite. I met Angelo on one of their projects and he was happy to explain the process of how to waterproof a house properly. They definitely take pride in their work. They are in high demand with all the fall rains recently. Their website is www.watertite.ca

Are you interested in having your eavestroughs replaced, leafguard, soffit or fascia installed? Do you live in Scarborough, North York or other areas in or near Toronto? Visit our website at www.eavestrough.ca

Rainguard Self-Retracting Downspout Extensions

We get lots of questions about what type of extension works best for safely draining water away from the house. Downspouts in an awkward area like across a walkway are usually troublesome no matter what you decide to use. We often use flip up downspouts that we make or have the extension come off easily with a pin. However both of these require some anticipation of rain and you will have put the flip up down or attach the extension to prevent water from pooling around your foundation. It seems like the obvious choice to hook up an automatic device like the Rainguard downspout extension.

So I bought one of these to give it a try so I could have some real world experience with this on my own home, in Toronto.

It attaches securely to the end of the downspout or elbow easily with a zip tie provided.

Experiment with Rainguard self-retracting Downsput Extention begins

As it rolls out with the water pressure from the downspout it slowly unwinds and lets water out the little holes until it rolls out completely letting all the water out the end where there is a big opening.

Once the rain stops the spring inside the plastic hose will retract itself back into its original compact shape. We had a big rain shortly after it was installed and it worked as promised on the package and retracted almost completely to its most compact size.

Darren with poorly working Rainguard self-retracting Downspout Extension

Limitations of the Rainguard:

1. It seems that on a light rain it will not uncoil very far from its compact position which depending on your situation may not be far enough away from the basement.

2. The little drainage holes on the top of the Rainguard are located close to the start which may be too close to your home.

3. Its thin plastic and the day after I installed it I came home to see that the grass cutters have whipper snipped the side out of it. So much for the longevity factor. Its fragile construction is likely why I have yet to remember finding an operating Rainguard on someone's home.

4. A brisk wind may blow it around as it's fairly light.

Since the one I purchased got damaged so quickly I saw it in action but never had a chance to record it, I have linked to the manufacturers website where they have a video of it in action.

http://www.rainguardusa.com/

If anyone out there has some feedback on this product please comment below for the benefit of those who may be considering purchasing one.

Visit our website http://www.eavestrough.ca