Adsibob Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 (edited) We have planned to use chains as a decorative way of transmitting rainwater down from the gutter to the ground (about 2.3m). However, saw this somewhere else, and it failed horribly. Have a look at the video: ec24ac23-1c5c-4276-bd58-f4cf9b0b8650.mp4 Mentioned this to the designer, who said several chains will work better than one, and the trick is to fill the hole with the chains as much as possible. Our hole has a diameter of 52mm, so wondering which chain size to get and how many lengths of chain to try and implement. Anyone have experience of this? Edited May 16, 2023 by Adsibob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Jones Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 put the chains inside a downpipe. wont have any problems them! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 3 minutes ago, Dave Jones said: put the chains inside a downpipe. wont have any problems them! Tbh - if I saw that ; I’d assume the gutter was overflowing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 I am going to try this on my balcony. Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Jones Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Just now, ProDave said: I am going to try this on my balcony. Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out. first bbq guaranteed someone will try and swing on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 It is a gimmick. Style over function. They splash all over the place. They also obstruct the wier effect at the outlet so need a bigger gutter and dp. OK on PD balcony where it is a nicety and can cause no damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 16, 2023 Author Share Posted May 16, 2023 17 minutes ago, ProDave said: I am going to try this on my balcony. Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out. What dimension chain/hole will you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy_wafer Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 (edited) Think I saw chains for drain coming off the dome roof at St George’s park. England football training ground! Edited May 16, 2023 by crispy_wafer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 It does work as long as sometimes splashing isn't going to be a problem. It avoids a big dogleg in the rwp if there is an oversailing roof. But it realy does need bigger gutters and/ or redundancy and/ or big overflow wiers out of harms way. Another place to see it is at the executive bypass of the Black Country, Hilton Park Services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Garden designer, Wendy Allen, is very keen on them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 16, 2023 Author Share Posted May 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Jilly said: Garden designer, Wendy Allen, is very keen on them Thanks, I’ll Google her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 My wife’s uncle has this on his Huf Haus. Seems to work fine. Bit of splashing in very heavy rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalvinHobbes Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 I saw one recently somewhere, it all looked green, covered in moss. Not good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardL Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Most recent one I saw on Gardeners world/Malvern show + IRL visiting - it wasn't working well - just looked messy? Skip to 20:43 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ltth/gardeners-world-2023-episode-9 Looks like too much flow over the top or might need the chain to come out of a hole on the bottom of the gutter rather than over the edge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I had an agricultural building with a ‘porch’ that had this, chains are now in the metal skip. Plan for a better solution than a chain, water ingress isn’t something I wish to deal with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 1 hour ago, RichardL said: might need the chain to come out of a hole on the bottom Yes, that is how they are meant to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 15 hours ago, Adsibob said: Anyone have experience of this? A friend of ours used chains for roof drainage on their new build. I wasn't a success when it was windy as the water went everywhere. It only worked well in light rain and no wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canski Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I built one in as a feature for when I was topping up my water feature. It was fed by the mains and I had a stainless steel chain running down the centre. It looked great but I had the advantage of being in control of the water flow. It was very sensitive. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I gave a heart for the photo. Then thought "mains water"? So the chain feature only runs when topping up the water feature? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canski Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Just now, saveasteading said: I gave a heart for the photo. Then thought "mains water"? So the chain feature only runs when topping up the water feature? Yep my rain water wouldn't run uphill and it was just a feature and also a means of topping up the water feature when it was required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Could be a display at Chelsea flower show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 They had a large chain downpipe at Exeter University when I was there. Was just another reason to dislike the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 2 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: Exeter University another reason to dislike the place. To which add Floella's "I love you all" speech? This is a potential fork in the discussion : sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 13 minutes ago, saveasteading said: This is a potential fork in the discussion : sorry You will have to elaborate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I'll pm rather than hijack the chains discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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