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In the 11/00 issue, the grunge rock house had chains instead of standard downspouts. I am interesting in using it on a Colorado house because of large overhangs that block too much sun. Downspouts will have to extend over large open area and will look bad. Overhangs extend out far enough to keep chain “splatter” away from house. We get low amounts of precip but great intensity and lots of freeze/thaw in winter. I wonder if anyone has tried it, what about success/failure, what to use for chains and how to attach to the gutters.
When my husband tries his brilliant ideas out on me (OK if he wants to hear it out loud, lousy if he thinks I have something to contribute), I often suggest he try it out in this forum. He thinks you won’t provide any construtive info. Prove him wrong!
Lisa
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Well, for one thing, I hope Mike Smith (as I recall he's a bigger proponent of what I have in mind) wanders in here. If your overhangs are really that large, maybe you don't need gutters? I know certain circumstances allow their elimination, and I recall large overhangs being one of them.
As for the chains, there was some discussion about them not too long ago. There's a < Obsolete Link > thread in the archives, with a ton of info. Overall opinion was 'hey, neat, never saw that before' and other wise favorable-ish.
Another option might be to just put an elbow on the downspout, returning it to the wall so it can follow down like normal.
*BTW, tell that hubby of yours to show his face so we can smack him around. Just a little, we'll be nice. I'm a DIY, and have found this to be hands down the best source of info, web world or real world. Most of the guys here are contractors, or at least played one on TV once. They're not entirely fond of DIYs, but still mostly willing to help out & answer questions.
*I get snow (avg 40"), I get rain (? more than a little). Straight ranch, 1 ft overhang, no gutters.
*What do you want gutters for? In many situations, the goal is to divert water well away from the house to prevent basement problems (which reguires regular downspouts and diverting channels - above or below ground). If the goal is only to prevent soil erosion below the overhangs, I prefer using landscaping elements (ie. rock perimeters) that will not be disturbed by dripping water.
*I noticed a rain chain in my latest copy of Wind and Weather catalog. The cost was $199 for a 10' length. It is copper, so will turn green.
*Lisa and Hubby: I've seen the chain thing done in Seattle and thought it looked good on both contemporary architecture and on stuff with an Asian theme. Sometimes the chain terminates in a drywell topped with river-run rock or in an above-ground barrel or basin of rocks. I suppose you could direct the water even further from the house with a French drain draining the basin.There's not much splatter off the chain. As the water flows over the chain, it doen't get going very fast. You're going to have to try a few different sizes to see what looks right. I've seen 3/8" to 3/4" chain used but it has to match the scale of your gutters and trim. Check out crane or trucking companies. Or at the docks. If old and rusty would look okay with your decor, you could get it cheap.I like a drip edge (1"x1" galvinized) over the paths and doorways and otherwise have rocks and bushes under the drip line. But then I have snow to contend with that will shear off most gutters.
*My parents have rain chains on their house. For light rain, they work. For heavy rain, they're equivalent to gutters with no downspouts. They empty onto a concrete deck, so it works OK.-- J.S.
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In the 11/00 issue, the grunge rock house had chains instead of standard downspouts. I am interesting in using it on a Colorado house because of large overhangs that block too much sun. Downspouts will have to extend over large open area and will look bad. Overhangs extend out far enough to keep chain "splatter" away from house. We get low amounts of precip but great intensity and lots of freeze/thaw in winter. I wonder if anyone has tried it, what about success/failure, what to use for chains and how to attach to the gutters.
When my husband tries his brilliant ideas out on me (OK if he wants to hear it out loud, lousy if he thinks I have something to contribute), I often suggest he try it out in this forum. He thinks you won't provide any construtive info. Prove him wrong!
Lisa