Rowland Heights ADU Construction, Downspouts Off the Walk
A Rowland Heights ADU whose downspouts are placed with the walk in mind, a grated channel where one must cross it, and a hose test before the drywall.
Roof water on a Rowland Heights backyard unit leaves in 2 steps: off the eaves into a gutter, then down a downspout to the ground. The second step is where a small building can cause trouble, since a downspout beside the door or the path between buildings sends water straight across the walk. So before the roof is framed, we pick the corners that get downspouts and decide where each one empties.
Where a downspout meets the walk
Sometimes the one workable corner for a downspout sits right beside the walk, because the gutter has to fall toward an outlet and the plan leaves no other choice. Then the water passes under the path. A narrow channel with a grate a shoe can cross is cast into the concrete where the downspout lands, and it carries the flow to the far side and on to a planted bed or a drain line. The channel has its own fall, so grit rinses through, and a removable end cap lets it be flushed clean. Each of these outlets is drawn on the site plan.
A hose test while the ceiling is open
Once the roofing and flashing are on, and before insulation and drywall close the ceiling, the roof gets a hose test. Water runs over one section at a time, starting at the eaves and working up, so any leak shows close to where it starts. Inside, a second person with a flashlight watches the sheathing around vent pipes, any skylight and the joints where roof meets wall. A drip found then means lifting a few shingles over open framing. The gutters get a trial too: a bucket emptied at the high end should reach the outlet without leaving a puddle partway.
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ADU Construction in Rowland Heights: common questions
A water pipe laid in the sewer's trench has to rest on a ledge of firm soil to one side, at least 12 inches above the drain, which keeps a leaking sewer away from drinking water. The power feeder runs in conduit at the depth the electrical code sets for that conduit. Each route is planned to stay clear of the downspout lines.
Yes, though its roof deck may need work before new roofing goes on. Some older garages were sheathed with boards laid with gaps between them, a deck that suited wood shingles. Composition shingles or tile need a solid surface, so plywood goes over the old boards, nailed through to the rafters, once the rafters are checked for the added weight.
Board and batten is worth a look. If the main house wears it on any wall, a rear wing or a porch gable, the unit can carry battens of the same width at the same spacing, which gives its walls the house's rhythm. Over lap siding, the unit's boards take the house's exposure, measured on a shaded wall where the paint is thinnest.
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