Downspouts are the unsung heroes of your home’s drainage system, ensuring rainwater flows away from your foundation. In this article, discover the benefits of downspouts, how to incorporate rain chains and fountains for added beauty, and explore creative downspout ideas with rocks to enhance your curb appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Downspouts are vital for redirecting water away from your home to prevent damage.
- Proper sizing and material selection for downspouts are essential.
- Incorporating rain chains and fountains can add elegance and tranquility to your outdoor space.
- DIY landscaping with rocks under downspouts improves aesthetics and functionality.
- Landscaping rocks offer pros and cons as downspout enhancements.
- A step-by-step guide for creating a DIY rock downspout basin to enhance curb appeal.
A downspout is a vertical section attached to a gutter. Usually, it is found on the corner of a home or building. It is a great addition to any drainage solution system. Downspout helps to channel the water away from your home and into the dry well. Downspouts also help manage roof runoff and prevent leaks, flooding, and any other damage that can come with drainage problems.
Now, you have to take the time to learn more about drainage options. And today, we will talk about downspout ideas with rocks. Why? Because we want your downspout to be functional, but also look amazing.
Why invest in gutter downspouts?
This is the first and most important question. But the answer is quite simple. Downspouts complement the existing drainage system by helping to funnel water flow from roofs, gutters, and drain pipes away from your foundation walls.
Areas that see heavy rain definitely need something to help with excess water and prevent water damage. This is where downspouts come into play.
Are they enough?
So, is a downspout enough for your needs? Of course. Remember, downspouts come in various sizes, depending on the amount of excess water they need to funnel.
Now, in some cases, when there is heavy rainfall, downspouts might not be enough to get the job done. In this case, you might need to install a downspout extension or some additional drain lines.
But a general rule of thumb is that a 3 inches downspouts carry 600 square feet of roof area, 4 inches carry 1200 square feet of roof area, and 5 inches downspouts carry 2000 square feet of roof area.
Once you determine the shape and size you need, all you have to do is choose the material. They can range from aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.
How can a rain chain and fountain be used in a beautiful way?
A rain chain and fountain can be utilized in a beautiful way by incorporating them into an outdoor setting. Whether in a garden, patio, or courtyard, the rain chain and fountain can add a touch of elegance and tranquility to the space. By cascading water delicately down the chain and into the fountain, these elements create a mesmerizing display that not only serves as a decorative feature but also provides a soothing auditory experience. The rain chain can be designed with intricate patterns or unique materials, such as copper or glass, enhancing its visual appeal. When combined with a well-designed fountain, the rain chain can contribute to a harmonious and visually stunning water feature that adds charm and serenity to any outdoor environment.
Do it on your own
Now, let’s talk about some cheap and easy DIY ways to enhance your curb appeal. One way is to invest in downspout ideas with rocks. Downspouts are a necessary element to guide water runoff from the gutter to the ground.
They do come with a certain aesthetic value, but only if you do landscaping around them. A creative downspout landscape is an excellent decoration for house exteriors. Here are some fun and useful ideas to enhance your landscaping with some downspout decorative ideas.
If you want to find a gardener to help complete your downspout, then Compare the Gardeners has the solution for you! Simply post a photo of the job you require to do, and local gardeners will contact you with quotes- it’s that easy! Then, you can choose from a range of expert garden services to ensure you get the perfect downspout for your garden!
Stack flat rocks under the gutter
Do you love waterfalls? Well, you can make one beautiful dry waterfall with your downspout. Simply stack flat rocks under the gutter downspout.
Decorative splash blocks
Here is another water feature you can make. Turn decorative splash blocks into a decorative water feature. Same as with the rocks, you can stack them.
Why use rocks?
So, why do we recommend you try some downspout ideas with rocks? Why are rocks so good? Well, think about it this way. Downspouts can wash away light mulches. Heavy mulches like landscaping rocks are the better choice for this area.
We suggest using a mix of mulch types around the downpipe. Start with rocks, and then move to larger bark chips and small bark chips to create a perfect mix for aesthetic value and functionality.
Landscaping rock is the perfect mulch to use underneath your downspout. First of all, there are simple ways to lay rocks or river stones. They look great, protect your plants, and prevent other mulch types from washing away.
Rocks can be used to create a downspout extension as well. The river rock downspout catch basin is a viable option as long as proper liners are placed underneath and borders are constructed to constrain the flow of water. Maintain the proper slope and direct water at least 15 feet away from a structure’s foundation.
Pros and Cons of Landscaping Rock Downspout
Pros:
- Makes your gutter look aesthetically pleasing
- Rocks can prevent weeds, shrubs, or soil mounds from growing and prevent the area from looking untidy
- Prevent soil washout and erosion
- Rocks absorb heat from sunlight and then radiate it at night when there is ice that needs to be melted. It is a process that helps water move faster
- They are a much more affordable option when you get them locally
- Rocks prevent the excess gathering of water, making it difficult for termites and insects to survive
Cons:
- They are not suitable for permanent water extension
- It might look unsightly when not adequately maintained
- You need some extra planning to move the water away from the house
How to make a Rock Downspout Basin?
Now let’s give you a step-by-step guide on how to make a DIY rock downspout basin. We know it is important to keep the rain chain water away from your house into dry wells. And this method will achieve exactly that. Downspout extensions are usually ugly. But rocks are not. They improve the curb appeal of your home.
- Measure how far you want the downspout to go. As we said before, you want it long enough that is away from the home
- Glue two plastic converter pieces together. Source them from Amazon or from any local hardware store. Clip them together with clamps that will hold while drying
- While they are drying, use dirt and rocks to build up a slant under the downspout that is angled away from your home. You will put the plastic on top of that slant
- Once the glue is dry, place the plastic downspout converter on top
- Get some medium-size rocks from a local landscape company and place them along the sides of your plastic converter. Do not put them perfectly straight to achieve a more organic and river-like look. Place your two biggest rocks where the rain chains come out of the downspout gutter. Place a flat rock at the very bottom for water to run off on, it will stop the water from forming a hole at the bottom
- Finally, cover the edges up with medium-sized rocks with mulch on both sides. Enjoy your new landscaping downspout with rocks