#29 Drainage, Roof Tiles & Water Tanks in rural ITALY

Buying a house in Italy to renovate. Problems catch you out and slow you down. The rustic roof has a big hole in it and I cannot fix it properly before winter. The terraces and drainage plans are bigger than I thought. Ordering french drainage materials may have to wait as I am out of time again and have to leave. This fleeting visit to Italy has been packed with the usual blend of organising deliveries and the waiting game.

Welcome to my channel about my big plans to renovate an old abandoned, rustic farmhouse that I bought in the Italian countryside. The Italian lifestyle and dream is one that I am slowing moving towards as I build a homestead.

Richard. 🍷

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Feel free to contact me or help support me and my channel.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 The best deck in Italy.
00:40 Fixing hole in my roof.
04:29 Setting up the garage.
05:30 Removing the water tank.
07:49 Italian wiring.
09:57 The Italian winter sunshine.
10:44 Window frame.
11:25 Corinaldo at night.
13:35 Did I buy the wrong things?
14:43 Drainage - will it last the winter?
17:35 Strategic planting.
18:35 The winter greenhouse.
20:14 3 little extras.

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I love reading the comments and am finding that there is a lovely group of like minded people starting to enjoy this and get involved. It is always great to hear from where you are watching in the world. Thank you for the subscriptions and all the support. 🙏

Best wishes,
Richard.

PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I may get a small kickback from. 😊

[housemarche]

Hey Richard, I have over a hundred of those tiles taking up space in my garage. You are welcome to take what you need.

[Stoobers]

Get some wine Rich.... have a nice Christmas mate. Love your vids.

[angelagagne]

Richard, keep up the good work. One foot in front of the other. One tree at a time. One home change at a time. Look at all your progress since Day 1. We all love the channel and each new video as you talk so naturally and share each new change and step. 🎉😊 Looking forward to each new video always with great anticipation. Cheers.

[clemerz]

I really appreciate your lighthearted approach when tackling projects and problems. I'm sure there are times off camera when things aren't so jovial, but thank you for your approach to creating a good life!

[JapanJimmy]

Yes I agree with a few other comments, using the slopes to water the farm on its one would be best, bladder bags for the trees and shrubs and pump system for sprinklers for the summer. Some cost but saves by losing far less plants in the years to come and hit summers your away. Try a cold frame first before greenhouse, not sure you need one if you’re not there and you can winter some plants in the sheds that have windows. All the best from Tokyo

[EricOnYouTube]

Merry Christmas, Richard. Really enjoy your vids. Hope to see you again next year. 😀

[userKno]

Rake the ground and add grass seeds. Water. It will take hold quickly.

[NancysBungalowLife]

We have rocks placed on top of the roof tiles at our places in Abruzzo, which is supposed to hold the tiles in place. It seems to be a pretty common practice.

[ianbooth]

You can flush the water heater out. Remove the cold water valve and flush from hot to cold. Could add some vinegar to descale it too.

[lesleywood]

I agree the deck has to stay, part of the property & lots of wine tasting went on 😂😂 you have a monumental task on your hands, you need some help ❤

[davidwilkinson]

Richard, a thought for consideration on staking trees.
Better to drive the stake in at 45⁰ and crossing the trunk about a foot above the ground. This holds the rootball firm but allows the trunk to move with the wind. This movement stimulates the tree to develop good retaining roots relative to wind strength and prevailing direction.
You can also save a few euros on stakes as you'll typically get two from one stake for the effort of putting a point on the cut section 👍😁

[brianeaton]

Too late I’m sure, but I think I would have planted some kind of annual ground cover on the terraces that would help drink up the water, and the roots would help hold the soil from washing away in heavy rain….weeds will probably take over sooner than you would like and you would have some control over that with a ground cover.

[ivanahanaivana]

Where I live (on the Medditerranea) we secure the roof tiles with a little cemen on each end. It fixes the tiles securely and it helps against the wind.

[neutonrenda]

You can connect the water to the little geyser with the hose and flush it out before you reconnect it. You will always find sediment in them.

[Paul-lczb]

You have your priorities all wrong, wine before tools. Gotta live that dream

[anthonytodd]

Hi Richard, just a quick line to thank you for your videos, love following your progress, keep them coming. Also wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas and everything you wish for in the New Year. Tony, Romiley

[annbottelli]

No, no greenhouse needed, just plant at the right time for each harvest and let it grow!! You will need some sort of irrigation as you are not always there. Fence it though, because of deer and wild boar.

[NautilusShell-so]

"What a deck!" Yes, I exclaim that about my boss virtually every day at the moment.

[ladolcevita]

🌲🤶🎅Wishing you a holiday filled with love laughter and lots of happiness. 💕

[Josh-xf]

Have a good Christmas Richard and a prosperous 2025 with lots Marche time!