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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Rain Chains - More Than Meets The Eye

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.

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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Invest in Gutters, Avoid Bad Waters

What 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.

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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Gutter Guards Improve Gutters

What is a gutter guard, and why do I need it?

Most homes and buildings these days have roof gutters that collect and divert rain water. These are great because when going in and out of your home during a rain storm means avoiding a serious waterfall and getting you soaking wet. It also means preventing flooding in the foundation, seeping into the basement, or even water damage to gardens. When a massive rainstorm moves through, water is diverted into water collection barrels to use later, or maybe is forced into the city drainage and away from the property. However, when the gutters get filled with debris, they can’t work efficiently. Leaves, dirt, and other gunk backs up the gutter water, not allowing it to release as intended.

This backup can cause serious damage! The collecting rainwater can flood into the eaves, causing water damage. The water can also begin to flood over the top of the gutter, causing the exact damage the gutter was installed to prevent. The weight of the water can cause bending or sagging, or if the water stands long enough, it can become home to breeding mosquitos.

A gutter guard, however, will prevent not only clogging, but also keep you from constantly having to clean out your gutters, which is absolutely no fun. They operate by covering the otherwise open gutter just enough to keep large debris out while still collecting as much water as possible.

Are there different types of gutter guards?

There are two categories of guards: covers and screens. Screens allow more water than covers, but also allow in smaller items such as tiny blooms from trees. These are things to consider when choosing a gutter guard. Within these two categories, there are five main types of guards:

• Foam-This plastic screen sits in the gutter itself, blocking debris but not water
• Bottle Brush- Just as the name implies, this guard is made of bristles like a brush; debris is collected by the brush while water trickles into the gutter
• Nylon- Guards made of this material work best in winter because the design and material prevent snow build up
• Mesh- These metal sheets are just like screen doors for the top of your gutter
• Reverse Curve- As the name suggests, the curve is reversed to push leaves and debris out of the gutter completely, while still collecting water

What should I know before installing a gutter guard?

• Gutter guards can be installed right to the gutters you already have
• Aside from blocking out leaves, guards also keep out rodents or birds from making a nest
• Guards mean less gutter cleaning duty; this also means the gutters will last longer since there won’t be debris to decay the material
• By filtering out elements, you’ll have more efficient rain water collection

Not all guards are the same, however.  Investigate and purchase the highest quality possible and have them installed by a professional.

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Snow Guards Save Lives and Property

Snow guards are vital for home owners and property managers alike, especially when maintaining sloping roof tops in snow and ice conditions.

There you are, minding your own business walking in to work when suddenly whoomp! A roof avalanche takes you out. Or worse yet, the same situation occurs, only you are the business owner, your employee happened directly beneath the falling ice, and now you are liable for the injuries befalling your employee. Falling snow and ice from sloped roof-tops can make dangerous situations both for people and their property in winter. But this can all be prevented with snow guards.

So, what is a snow guard?

A snow guard is a device, most likely made from metal or plastic, that protrudes from the roof. The purpose: to prevent accumulated snow and even ice from avalanching down off the roof and onto you, a guest, animals, your car, trees, or anything else valuable that can be damaged from the heavy snow and ice. It does this by slowly melting sections or at least controlling how much debris can fall at any given time. Amazingly, the guards can be matched to your roof so that they seem invisible!

Can I install snow guards myself?

Installing guards is best left to professional installers. The handyman or homeowner who tries to install a system may do so incorrectly, which potentially could cause more damage to the roof. If the pattern isn’t correct or if the attachment isn’t solid enough, it could increase possible damage to shingles, gutters, or other property. A licensed and practiced roofer can install the system for you since they have experience taking into account roofing type and thickness, slope of the roof, and even possible snow loads. This then determines the pattern, placement, and guard size or material.

Snow guard basics
Though you should talk to a professional installer, the basics of how the guards work is:
• Begin with high quality products that match the type of roof you have
• The guards should be placed as to hold snow and ice where it is, so several rows are necessary
• Have the roof pitch, roof dimensions, and selected snow guard (what color or decoration you are interested in) ready to give a professional installer
• The guards should be then placed in a staggered fashion across the roof

So, what kind of snow guards are there?

There are so many different types of guards to choose from to meet your needs. You can choose from material type, roof type, and even decor. The type of guard installed depends entirely on your roof, and your aesthetic choices. The following list is not comprehensive, but is just an example of what kinds of snow guards you will need based on your roof:

• Tile- Tile roofs require Pad-Style or Pipe-Style fittings
• Metal- Metal roofs will require Fence-style, Pad-Style, or Pipe-style fittings
• Solar Panels- Solar Panels require specific fittings meant just for solar arrays
• Shingle- Shingled roofs require Pad-Style or Pipe-Style





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What is a Rain Chain?

So what is a rain chain and how will it help your home?

A rain chain is a unique alternative to having the more common and traditional downspout that helps drain the gutters. The rain chain uses a collection of cups and chains where the water will flow from the gutter and down to the ground. It's a lot more visually beautiful to have instead of a much longer downspout that resembles a pole.

Additionally, a rain chain will also provide some easy listening acoustics that range from a small trickling of water traveling down the chain and all the way up to what can sound like a miniature waterfall.

History

The rain chain was first developed in Japan to create a water feature that carried water down to either a drain or storage container as a way of storing rain water. Some families in Japan, hundreds of years ago, even had the water deposited into larger barrels for the household to use down the road - for tasks such as baths, cooking, and laundry.

In many homes and temples, the Japanese would have the water from the rain chain flow into ceramic or stone pots to collect the rain as a way of providing even more of a display for the water collection. Even here in the United States, there are people who will want to have redwood or cedar containers underneath each rain chain - with smaller decorative pebbles inside the container.

Usually, the rain being collected regularly, would help moss grow in between the pebbles. There are also instances when some would use a paver tile or stones to help break the water's fall.

Japanese temples had also incorporated the rain chain into the design of the buildings to add even more visual beauty when people would come to frequent. A similar product was also found in South America where the rain chain was considered a better option than machine downspouts.

Natural benefits

The idea of having a rain chain is how it can be linked to the Japanese term of feng shui - literally meaning "wind and water" 

- which is the art of moving matter in a specific order in an effort to create harmony within the environment. It is a practice that has been used for thousands of years in Asian

In feng shui, there is another term of "chi" that represents the universal energy that surrounds us. Finding a balance between people and the natural elements of the environment is considered good chi. In a lot of ways, both can be accomplished with a combination of having a few rain chains as a way to have a peaceful and tranquil way to connect with nature.

Installation

The installation of a rain chain is very basic in nature and only involves having to hang the chain from a hole where the gutter's downspout would usually hang and utilizing the attachment pieces that usually come with the gutter kit. In the event of a mismatch between the hole in the gutter and the chain, one might have to purchase a new installation kit to make the hole smaller to enable the water to trickle into the rain chain.

GutterSupply.com usually sells each type of rain chain at about eight and a half feet with nearly 20 cups per chain. Each style features cups and flower patterned cups that are open at the bottom to allow the flow of water.

More information

Additionally, GutterSupply.com will also offer various types of metal that compose the different rain chains - aluminum, copper, galvanized steel and zinc. The online gutter supply store also offers a vinyl gutter rain chain. For more information about the different styles and composition types of rain chains, as well as pricing, you can visit GutterSupply.com and click on the corresponding links for rain chains.

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The different rain chains to choose from

Rain chains have become an increasingly popular alternative to the downspouts that help drain the water that flows from the rooftop into the gutters. The online store at GutterSupply.com offers a number of styles of rain chains that help provide a tranquil environment where you can rest on your porch or patio during those rainy days.
With 25 different rain chains available for purchase at 25 percent off, there are plenty of options to choose from. But before ordering, it would be good to review the different types and styles of rain chains offered by the folks at Gutter Supply.

Rain chain styles

When it comes to choosing what kind of rain chains you will want for your home, there are a few styles to keep in mind. The first being the link style that will offer a number of types from twist loops, a variation where the loops are composed of wires that provide a path to create an interesting water effect, and Zen loops that provide a distinct honor to the chains’ Japanese heritage.

There are also more traditional looking link and circle loops that the water can run through on the way from the gutter and down to either the ground or a containing system that collects the water. GutterSupply.com also provides an exclusive infinity link design with unique curves. Double loops are also considered one of several designs that feature strong influence from the Asian cultures.

The second type of rain chain is the cup style that can take the heavier flow of water with a design that can send the water straight down into the corresponding cups that run down the chain – each with an open bottom. This style offers various types of cups that are designed like a number of shapes like the lotus flower, the copper bells and hummingbirds.

Gutter Supply also offers a classic arts and crafts style that provides cups that are more designed like trapezoids. The main thing that makes this a popular style is how the different cup styles will less likely splash water so that they can be placed anywhere without causing impact to other outdoor recreation.

Composition

There are a number of different compositions for the various rain chains, including metals, woods and even vinyl materials. Some cost more than others depending on the value of the material used to make the specific rain chains – some are finished or unfinished that provide some different looks and textures.
Aluminum – Among the various rain chains, Gutter Supply offers aluminum flared cups for about $77.95 regular price, as well as link chains and hand hammered aluminum dishes that are accompanied with corresponding hooks. These can range from about $35 to about $80.

Copper – A little more pricey with many options being listed for more than $150 for the copper bell cups that have reinforced folded lips and come with hand hammered accents.
Iron – Gutter Supply also offers iron flower cups for a rain chain that cost about $70 for an eight-and-a-half foot chain with a classically flared design that offers a hand finished cup. While it is a lot less expensive than copper, iron provides a little more durability for longevity.

Installation kits

While many Rain Chains are able to be connected to the openings in rain gutters that are usually designed for the more traditional downspout, Gutter Supply also offers easy installation rain chain kits that will help make sure you are able to have your rain chain connect with your pre-existing gutter systems.
The online retailer also offers copper and aluminum varieties that will come in three- and six-inch outlet lengths for the various aforementioned styles and compositions available at GutterSupply.com. The aluminum rain chain installation kit is a little less expensive at about $12 before the sale, with copper options ranging from $15 to $22 – depending on outlet length.

The company also offers a half-round installation kit that can also act as a reducer that is able to be placed into a gutter hole of about two and a quarter inches – this will allow the rain chain to hang from the bolt on the bottom of the kit so that the water will be led down to the chain.

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