Hi all, first time poster here.... Bought my first house a few months back and seems like it has "potential" as they say, but going to take some work....Anyway, I've been working on figuring out some water issues. Not much ends up on the basement floor though it did flood once after I bought it when there was a non-operational sump pump and when it rains, the sump pump runs very often - multiple times per minute. I've made some improvements to the downspout drainage - extending further away and exposing to daylight vs. being buried in clay soil close to house. It could use some improvements in regrading around the foundation though I'm not sure that is the biggest issue. [b]One thing I've discovered that sounds bizarre is that when putting leak tracing dye in my driveway trench drain, the dye ends up in my sump pit which is on the opposite corner of the house[/b]....the interior of the basement did have a perimeter drains system installed (in 1984 I'm told), but it only covers 2 full walls and 3/4 of another wall. the driveway area is an area that doesn't have this interior drainage system. [b]the only thing i can guess is that the original downspouts were connected to the exterior foundation drains when the home was built and when the downspouts were replaced, there are remnants of that system that remain and it is channeling water to the basement. [/b] is there another explanation of how water gets from the driveway drain to the pit? how do i fix this? dig all the way to the footing and remove old downspouts???? thanks for any advice.......

Hello All, We are about to have the shingles replaced on our home and I would like a few thoughts on attic ventilation. The home is 3000sq ft and 20 years old, located in south Alabama, btw. We are going back with a tan colored architectural shingle. The roof is mainly a hip roof with exception it has a gable roof over the garage/bonus room (bottom right in image). The home has two electric attic ventilators but I would like to go back with ridge vents. The problem is the two ridges are only about 12 ft in length and the contractor doesn't feel that would be sufficient. I agree considering the gable attic is very small and it would offer virtually no ventilation for the rest of the home. Consequently, he is encouraging me to stay with the electric ventilators. Is there any way to calculate how much ventilation I would need for ridge vents? Otherwise, do you have a better alternative then two electric ventilators? Thanks, Ralph