Rutland Architectural Blog - downspoutExtension

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Before downspouts were implemented, rain spouts used to throw water off a roof top with parapet walls or directly from rain gutters mounted around the edges of a roof line. Ancient rain spouts typically took the form of lions, eagles or mythical creatures. Then some grotesque creatures such as gargoyles, griffins, centaurs or chimeras became common centuries ago. Today downspouts are typically used to drain rain water from flat roof openings or from gutters, away from building walls and foundations. You will still see rain spouts and gutter spouts implemented occasionally, as unique or distinctive architectural features of homes and buildings, especially those located in warmer climates.

gargoyle rain spouts mounted on Notre Dame Cathedral in France pictured

gargoyle rain spout mounted on Notre Dame Cathedral in France close-up picture showing water channel

Rain Spout Gargoyles on Notre Dame Cathedral
(photos courtesy Wikipedia Media Commons - CC by SA)

Rain spouts which spew water from flat roof openings are also commonly referred to as roof scupper spouts. Roof scuppers are used to provide an outlet through parapet walls (low walls) on flat and built-up roofs to allow drainage of excess water. They can be used in conjunction with gutters and downspouts to divert the flow to the desired location. Installed scuppers may direct water into gutters or directly into a scupper box or leader conductor head connected to a downspout. When neither conductor heads nor gutters are used to catch the water, roof scupper spouts are installed which should extend past the exterior surface of the building to avoid wetting of the building's walls. A roof scupper can simply be a round or square opening in the low wall or parapet which typically encircles a flat roof. Plain pipe can be inserted into these roof openings or a more decorative piece such as a gargoyle rain spout - roof scupper spout may be used. Other types of roofs which have gutters installed along the horizontal edges of the roof, might have openings along the sides or at the ends or corners of the gutters, to which rain spouts also may be attached in lieu of downspouts. These rain spouts may be simple funnel outlets or be more decorative such as the popular fish rain spout - gutter spout or gargoyle rain spout shown below.

rain spout - fish gutter spout made from pure copper pictured here

Fish Gutter Spout - Rain Spout
gutter spout - copper fish rain spout copper pictured here mounted on copper gutter

fish downspout extension copper elbow pictured here

Fish Gutter Rain Spout - Matching Copper Fish Downspout Extension

rain spout - gargoyle gutter spout made from pure copper pictured here

Rain Spout - Copper Gargoyle - Gutter Spout
rain spout - copper gargoyle gutter spout made from pure copper - rear view pictured here

Rutland fabricates custom rain spouts such as the gargoyle and fish gutter rain spouts and fish downspout extension elbow above or the gargoyle rain spout - roof scupper below out of pure heavy weight copper. The gargoyle rain spout above is intended to mount at the ends or corners of a gutter system. The custom fish gutter spout above may be ordered for either k-style or half round copper gutters in 6 inch, 7 inch or 8 inch gutter sizes. The fish downspout extension elbow shown above may be adapted for use with 3 inch or 4 inch copper downspouts. The gargoyle roof scupper rain spout below is intended for mounting into a 4 3/16" roof scupper opening. Rutland creates a large array of unique architectural copper work and assorted metal fabrication. Rutland's custom copper craftsmen will take your decorative or architectural concepts and turn them into reality, according to your specifications from your sketches, drawings, descriptions or pictures. Additional pictures, CAD design drawings and specifications are available for Rutland's custom Rain Spouts - Gutter Spouts and roof scupper spout.

gargoyle rain spout - copper gargoyle roof scupper water spout pictured here

Rain Spout - Gargoyle - Roof Scupper Spout

8/8/2010 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Copper Elbow Downspout Extension Gooseneck

Rutland has the capability to fabricate a custom copper downspout elbow - downspout extension gooseneck. These one piece gooseneck offset elbows or downspout extension elbows are less prone to leaks than three piece downspout elbow extensions and are also much more visually appealing especially in attractive round or square downspout styles. These custom downspout elbow extensions - gooseneck offset elbows with one piece design are further enhanced by seamless TIG welded construction, offering smooth unbroken surface or sight lines, best durability and strength. Gooseneck downspout elbow extensions are most often used with roof overhangs or to merge multiple gutters into one downspout or leader head.

copper downspout elbow gooseneck offset designs - round copper angled- square copper angled and square copper arched downspout elbow extension shown

Round Angled Downspout Elbow - Square Angled Gooseneck - Square Arched Elbow
custom downspout elbow - copper gooseneck with mild radius design shown

custom downspout elbow - copper gooseneck with mild radius design shown

Copper Downspout Extension Elbow Radius Square Gooseneck Design

copper downspouts - copper gutters shown installed incorporating copper elbow downspout extension goosenecks

copper downspouts - copper gutters shown installed incorporating copper elbow downspout extension goosenecks

Copper Gutter - Downspout System with Round Downspout Gooseneck Elbows
Custom Downspout Elbow Gooseneck Design, available in aluminum, stainless steel or copper pictured here

Custom Downspout Elbow Gooseneck Design

Rutland custom manufactures custom gooseneck downspout elbow offsets and extensions to the requirements of the architect, builder, contractor or property owner. The shape, angle, arch, radius, length and height may all be customized and specified. These downspout elbows and extensions may be specified in round, square or rectangular downspout styles in a variety of materials and with any dimensional size. Rutland's one piece custom gutter downspout elbow gooseneck extensions look fantastic by themselves or coupled with one of Rutland's many stylish leader heads - downspout conductors. Rutland gooseneck downspout elbow extensions additional information including CAD design drawings - custom construction specifications may be found on their Downspout Extension Elbow Gooseneck webpage.