Monday 30 November 2015

Should I Buy Or Build A Rain Chain?

Rain chains have become a lot more popular nowadays, mainly because they’re a low cost alternative to downspouts, which can look clunky and unattractive. If you have decided that you want to use a rain chain instead of spending a lot of cash on a downspout that you may not even like, you have a big decision ahead of you – will you take the time to build a rain chain on your own, or do you think that it may be a better idea for you to just buy one and install it on your home? Here are some considerations that you will want to make if you’re looking to use rain chains on your home.
Why Would I Build a Rain Chain?
There are a few reasons that you may want to think about building a rain chain instead of buying one. Here are some of the main reasons that you may want to do so.

First, if you’re the type that really likes to be creative, or if you enjoy tinkering and trying out new things that you can make, then you may want to try your hand at making a rain chain yourself instead of going out and buying one premade. Even if you’re not incredibly skilled at it, you may still be able to put it together quite easily because it’s not a hard task for you to take on. You may have to try a few times in order to be able to get the whole thing down and done correctly, but it’s worth the effort to save the cash.

If you’re crafty and you happen to have some metal laying around the house you may want to build your own rain chain. Since it is such an easy task and you already have the skills, you’re going to be in a much better place, and you’re not going to have a huge budget when it comes to putting the whole thing together. On top of that, you’re going to have a lot of fun and you won’t have to buy any tools in order to try and do the whole thing either.

Why Would I Just Buy a Rain Chain?
In other cases, you may be trying to figure out if buying a rain chain is the right decision. Here are some of the considerations that you may want to make if you’re just going to buy a rain chain.

What does your budget look like? There are many items that can make it a lot easier for you to get your costs under control. In some cases, especially if you don’t have any of the supplies that we talked about above, it may just be better for you to go out and buy one. This is the same case if you’ve decided that you want to save time, as well. Some people just don’t have the time that they need in order to be able to make something like a well done rain chain.
Another consideration is the design. Even though many people can make a basic chain that doesn’t have any frills, it takes a little bit more skill to make a more complicated one. If you’re looking for something elaborate or decorative then you may want to leave it to the processionals and take a look at everything that is already on the market. You may find something that you absolutely love and adore, or you may even find something that goes perfectly with the whole scheme that you have for the outside of your home. Either way, you at least want to go ahead and look at the premade ones that are out there.

If you’ve been looking at a rain chain, this is an important decision that you’re going to want to make so that you can figure out a budget and such ahead of time. If you’re looking for a rain chain, go ahead and check out the entire selection that we have available for you. There are a lot of beautiful ones that you can choose from, and they’re easy to install on your home at any point in time.

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Tuesday 17 November 2015

Rain Chains - More Than Meets The Eye


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What is a "rain chain"?

The rain chain has gained great popularity in America as a substitute for a downspout in traditional Western homes. Originally, however, it was a decorative as well as functional household tool in its nation of origin, Japan. The original rain chain, or kusari-toi, was made to act as a beautiful water feature as it moved rainwater from rooftops down toward a drain or possibly a storage container to both prevent flooding and also to conserve natural resources.

Many of these water features are made as chains or cups, which many find much more pleasing than a traditional downspout, even without rain. These artistic but functional elements harmonize the environment surrounding it, providing constant life force movement with rain. Simultaneous to the movement is a comforting and relaxing sound as the water travels from ring to ring or cup to cup. This aesthetic experience is created through the ancient practice of fusui. Much like China's feng shui, fusui is about finding balance with nature and the natural flow of energy. This energy, or chi, is believed to improve the quality of life for those who practice fusui.

Why use a rain chain?

In states where water is becoming or already is scarce, salvaging rain while keeping up aesthetics is a great combination. Aside from the relaxing sight and sounds a rain chain provides, the collection of such a valuable resource is important for gardens and drinking water. Merely place a bucket, barrel, or bowl beneath the chain and then store the water. Barrels tend to be easiest as the water stores directly in the barrel, ready to be used when drier weather approaches. The water can also be used as drinking water, washing water, or even to fill fountains that run when it is not raining. Another benefit to using such a device is that rain chains will not get clogged like gutters and spout systems might. Keeping heavy storms from flooding your property or filling gutters that might later damage the roof with standing water is the greatest benefit.

Types of Rain Chains.

There is a great deal of variations when choosing a rain chain. First, there are a large number of materials to choose from, such as colored aluminum, zinc, copper, steel, and more. The most traditional-looking material is copper as it will change with vert de gris as it is used to look more antique. There are also the choices of styles. Links, cups, and themed rain chains make it possible to find exactly the right chain for your home and your style.While themed chains are less traditional, they are more modern and more reflective of the personality of your garden. Dragonflies, watering cans, and even pineapples are some of the decorative options you might find. There are also accessories to compliment whatever style you choose, such as collecting dishes and attachment pieces to make installation simple.

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How to Install a Rain Chain

If you already have a gutter, installing a rain chain is easy. Place a V clip gutter attachment piece inside the gutter so it lays flush over the downspout hole. This piece should direct water toward the chain. This attachment piece might need to be bent slightly so that it fits better, since gutters often vary in size or dimensions.

Search for a rain chain installation kit to have a full plethora of all needed tools for installation. The variation of outlet lengths and verities of materials means you will find just the right match for whatever rain chain you decide on.

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Monday 16 November 2015

Invest in Gutters, Avoid Bad Waters

Galvalume GuttersWhat Are Gutters?
In buildings, troughs are placed at the edge of roofs to capture and distribute rainwater so a flood of water does not plummet from the roofing, and instead has a controlled descent through a down spout. From there, the water is either collected into rain barrels for garden or other use, or is directed into the man made drainage. This diversion is intended to keep water from the foundation of the structure to limit flooding or water damage such as basement leaks or flooded gardens. The down side is that these gutters can become clogged with natural debris like leaves and must be regularly maintained. However, maintenance is neither costly nor hard to do. The investment in a rain diversion system will in the end prevent more expensive or difficult repairs to the structure itself.

Who Uses Gutters?
The need for a rain diversion system is primarily determined by things such as the type of property you own or manage, how much rain you regularly receive, especially in a given storm, and your cost budget. Property inspectors and building officials have recently determined that gutters are essential to every property. The value of the home is stabilized and the amount of damage or eventual wear and tear repair is minimized. The soil at the base of the home as well as the home's foundation are kept stable, erosion in gardens is minimized, exterior water staining is averted, exterior doors will be less likely to warp, and sidewalks, patios, and driveways might have less settling and cracking. Therefore, all owners and property managers need to invest in rain gutters on every structure.

What Kinds of Gutters Are There?
There are many different types of gutters to choose from. Most frequently, the materials used are steel, aluminum, copper and quite often vinyl. While vinyl is cost efficient and popular overall, they are not best used in extreme cold or heavy snow-laden areas. Ice, hail and deep freezes can damage vinyl easily, though without extreme weather the vinyl should last at least 10 years. Steel is the most durable of the materials, but the greatest weakness is the possibility of rust. If the finish is kept tidy and damaged areas are fixed quickly, rust is less likely and so this material can last well over 10 years and up to 50 years, depending. Aluminum though, is rust- resistant, yet with aluminum the integrity is weakened, thus denting may be an issue. That said, the lifespan of most aluminum gutters is about 25 years, roughly half that of steel. Copper gutters are very durable. In fact, they can last well over 50 years if maintained properly. The attractive patina that copper develops over time is an added bonus for many, but keep in mind that copper gutters can be a tempting target for theft because the material is so expensive.
Copper Gutter
How Should Gutters Be Maintained?
Rain troughs must be maintained, so regularly cleaning and checking for good working order is essential. If you wait too long and find your gutters filled with leaves or worse yet growing grass and weeds, you could be causing damage to the Gutters. If they are clogged, there might be water damming, which can cause damage to the eaves or even flooding into the house itself, mosquitoes may breed in standing water, or the gutters themselves may be deteriorating from the heavy loads. The more trees surrounding the building, the more often the gutters must be cleaned. At minimum, twice a year is a necessity, though each property is different. To keep gutters from needing further repair, or worse yet to prevent gutter damage to the building, have gutters cleaned as often as necessary.

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