Rutland Architectural Blog - Downspouts

Gutters Colors Chart

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:15:32 GMT

Gutters and downspouts made from aluminum, galvalume and galvanized steel are available pre-painted or may be custom painted in a large variety of gutters colors to match your building or home decor. Other architectural metal work such as roof vents, wall vents, chimney caps, cupolas, roof finials, dormer vents, chimney pots, awnings, canopies, deck railings, soffit vents, etc., may also be painted to coordinate with your home colors or building decor. Oftentimes, standard products are only available in a limited color range of colors and styles. The regular paint finish might also not be very durable and may fade, peel, chip, crack, blister or flake rather quickly or in a matter of years. You want your painted architectural metal surfaces to last under normal usage and conditions for at least about 20 years with 30-35 years even better yet. Deteriorated or damaged paint coverings not only detract from your home's appearance and lowers value, but also accelerate corrosion and wear of the underlying metal. Replacement, refinishing or repainting of deteriorated metalwork can be both time consuming and costly. Starting out with a better paint finish better protects your investment and is a far better value in the long run.

Gutter Color Chart - Regular Paint Finish

Gutters Color Chart - Premium Kynar Finish

Regular quality paint finishes for architectural metal surfaces may often utilize thermally set polyester acrylic paint and are often found on better aluminum gutters and downspouts. If properly applied with a nice thick coating, these should last for about 20 years or so without cracking, blistering, peeling, flaking or chipping providing there is no external physical damage. Any damaged or deteriorated spots should be refinished, restored or touched up immediately to prevent further deterioration. Kynar 500, a member of the teflon family, is an even better premium custom paint finish which is more durable and longer lasting than regular paint finishes. A Kynar paint finish is virtually self-cleaning and requires much less maintenance. Kynar also offers much less chalking effect, less color change or fading than regular paint finishes and Kynar offers better abrasion resistance as well. A custom Kynar paint finish may be applied to any aluminum, galvanized steel and galvalume architectural metal work including gutters, downspouts, cupolas, roof finials, chimney caps, metal dormers, awnings, roof vents, wall vents, etc. Rutland offers in-house custom Kynar paint finish as an option for their extensive selection of gutters, downspouts and architectutral metal work. Many of Rutland's products are also available in an unfinished state in mill finish aluminum, paint grip galvanized steel or galvalume, which may be custom finished on site by the local contractor, building or home owner. Sometimes galvalume gutters and downspouts are left in an unfinished state and the innate protection may provide about 40 years worth of durability and low maintenance performance. Rutland's gutter supplies, roof accessories and architectural metal work are also available in copper, stainless steel and zinc which are most always left unfinished and whose naturally protective and durable surfaces can last upwards to 70-90 plus years with little to no maintenance required.

Copper Elbow Downspout Extension Gooseneck

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:00:37 GMT

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.

Round Angled Downspout Elbow - Square Angled Gooseneck - Square Arched Elbow

Copper Downspout Extension Elbow Radius Square Gooseneck Design

Copper Gutter - Downspout System with Round Downspout Gooseneck Elbows

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.

Copper Downspout with Sculpted Elbow Gooseneck Offset

Downspout Diverter

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:51:50 GMT

Rutland has released three new models of downspout diverters - rain collection diverters. In addition to the existing 3"x4" corrugated rectangular model, Rutland has now added a seamless round downspout diverter, a seamless square downspout diverter and a crimped round downspout diverter to it's offerings. All of Rutland's custom downspout diverters are available in standard downspout sizes including: 3", 4", 5" or 6" round (smooth or crimped); 3" or 4" square (smooth); 3"x4" or 4"x5" rectangular (corrugated); other custom sizes are also available. Rutland's downspout rain diverters are available in either aluminum or pure copper. These corrosion resistant all metal heavier gauge materials ensure excellent durability, weathering ability and long life. All downspout diverter models feature a simple yet very reliable metal two-way valve or valve flap, that promotes maximum rain water flow without restriction and provides decades of trouble-free performance. Aluminum rain diverters are available in mill finish aluminum (unfinished - paintable) or else may be ordered pre-painted in one of Rutland's many gutter - downspout colors. Copper rain diverters are available in heavier gauge pure unfinished copper or may even be ordered in a custom pre-patinated finish to better match existing weathered copper gutter systems.

Additional information on Rutland's downspout diverters may be viewed on their Downspout Diverter - Rain Diverter webpage, including CAD design drawings of their various downspout diverter models. Rutland Gutter Supply also supplies all the downspout extensions, downspout elbows, downspout offsets, downspout goose-necks, downspout funnels, downspout strainers, downspout clean-outs, downspout brackets, downspout adapters and other downspout parts you require to properly install a downspout diverter - rain barrel diverter. Downspout rain diverters can be used for rain water harvesting or rain water collection in a rain barrel or in one of many different shapes and styles of water storage tank. Diverted and collected rain water is used for many purposes including gardening, irrigation and washing. Rain water is free, naturally soft, without the sediment, hardness and chemicals found in regular tap water or in well water, is usually healthier for plants and also cleans well without leaving typical hardness spots or scum left after washing. Downspout rain diverters are eco-friendly and also integral part of green design.

Downspout T-Adaptor - Inline Downspout Cleanout - Elbows

If you wish to add optional first flush capability to your downspout diverter, a downspout T-Adaptor with an appropriately sized bottom extension connected will do the job. First flush routes the first flow of rain water away from your rain barrel or water storage tank and eliminates much of the contaminants lying on your roof such as dust, dirt, pollen, insects, residues, bird and rodent droppings. Larger debris should be filtered by a combination of gutter screens, downspout strainers and a downspout cleanout located upstream (higher) from the diverter. The downspout cleanout either box or inline types, allows you to more easily empty out filtered debris and minimized servicing of your T-Adaptor's first flush extension or standpipe. The T-Adaptor extension will be capped on the bottom and have very small (pin-hole) drain holes near the bottom which allows the water to gradually drain out, perhaps routed over to a planted area. During a rain shower the bottom portion of the T-pipe extension will first fill with the rain water until the level reaches the horizontal outlet then subsequent rain water will exit the T-adaptor and drain into your water tank or rain barrel. Recommended first flush rain water diversion is at least a gallon of water per 100 square feet of rain collection area. For example: say you are using 4 inch round downspout pipe, then you would need a 18 inch length of extension pipe per gallon while 6 inch downspout pipe only requires about 8 inches extension length to hold a gallon. If your one downspout services say 400 sq feet of roof area, the first flush T-adaptor extension would need to be 32 inches in length using 6 inch diameter pipe or 72 inches (12 feet) in length using 4 inch round downspout pipe. Depending on how often it rains, amount of debris accumulation and how well you filter out debris and sediment upstream, you will need to occasionally remove the bottom cap of your first flush extension, to clean out accumulated debis or residual sediment to keep the bottom drain hole open and unobstructed. The pinhole drain hole(s) should be located higher than absolute bottom of the capped extension to prevent residual sediment from quickly clogging the small drain hole(s).

Rain Water Collection - Downspout Diverter

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:50:50 GMT

Rain water collection or rain water harvesting is becoming more and more popular these days as people become more aware of the many benefits and possible uses of diverted rainwater. Instead of allowing rain water falling on a roof top to drain in limited spots around the perimeter of a home's foundation or else be channeled into the sewer system, rain water can be collected in rain barrels, conserved and put to good use. Assuming your home already has a gutter system and downspouts, rain water collection systems can be fairly simple and relatively low cost or they can be very elaborate systems which run into thousands of dollars. Collected or harvested rain water can be used to water plants, gardens, lawns, house plants, for cleaning or washing and to distribute rain water to sheltered or protected areas which don't normally get much water. Rain water is naturally soft and free of fluoride, chlorine and other additives found in tap water and is healthier for plants and the lack of hardness improves cleaning and washing. Rain water is perfect for washing your car leaving no hardness spots. There can be savings too on the purchase of city water if significant rain water is collected and used instead.

How much rain water can be collected? Even very small roofs, say for example a 1000 square feet roof is capable of collecting up to 600 gallons of rain water run off with 1 inch of rain accumulation. Quick rule of thumb to estimate how much water falls off your roof with a 1" rainfall, is to multiple the square footage of your roof by 3/5th. Most rain water collection involves some variation of a rain barrel or storage tank and those average about 55 gallons in size. They fill up surprisingly quickly with a decent rainfall.

What do you need to get started? To collect rain from most roofs, you usually need to have a gutter system with downspouts. Flat roofs with low retaining walls require roof scuppers or rain spouts feeding scupper boxes and downspouts. If you don't yet have a gutter system then get one not only to harvest rain water but to protect the walls and foundation of your building from water damage. Now assuming you have a gutter or roof drainage system with downspouts, you need to splice into, attach or insert a downspout diverter or rain water diverter into one or all of your downspouts. A downspout diverter simply put has a two-way valve which can either divert the roof rain water flowing through the downspout into a rain barrel, storage container or tank or otherwise allow the rain water to exit the downspout normally.

Downspout Rain Diverters Copper & Aluminum Shown With Reliable 2-Way Valve

Virtually any style. type and size of gutters and downspouts will work. Downspout rain diverters are available for rectangular corrugated downspouts (shown above), smooth square or rectangular downspouts and round downspouts in virtually any durable gutter downspout material such as aluminum, copper, zinc, galvalume or stainless steel. Rusty steel gutters and downspouts should be refinished or replaced though to prevent staining. There is no reason to use plastic downspout diverters or rain collection system parts. Plastic gutters and downspouts may detract from your home's appearance and are not as strong or as durable with temperature extremes, UV radiation and such as metal gutters and downspouts. Among metal gutters and downspouts, copper gutters are the most attractive pick, for copper requires no finishing, coating or paint, copper requires no maintenance, copper weathers beautifully with it's own built-in natural corrosion protection, copper is the most durable architectural metal lasting nearly a century and copper is 100% recyclable when it finally is replaced. This also makes copper the greenest, most environmentally friendly choice. Copper is also unique in that it possesses remarkable natural antimicrobial and fungicidal properties which are a great attribute for gutter and rain water collection systems. The small traces of copper salts present in the runoff water are also needed and healthy for plants and vegetation as well as for humans and animals.

Downspout Strainer - - - - - - - Gutter Screens Pictured

To keep large debris from clogging up your gutters, downspouts and entering your rain collection it is advisable to at minimally use a downspout strainer at the top of each downspout and better yet gutter screens or gutter guards to catch even smaller debris from entering. An inline downspout cleanout or cleanout box may be also be used to filter larger debris and are designed to be serviceable closer to the ground. Some sort of basic filtration or screen may also be used at the input to your rain barrel, container or storage tank. Screening or filtering placed inside or over all exposed openings and sealing or caulking any gaps also helps prevent mosquito breeding. The rain downspout diverters pictured above are designed to present no restriction and allow full flow downs throughout the downspout system. Some types of diverters and also use of rain barrel screening with very tight mesh or foam filtering can restrict your water flow and cause excessive back pressure or backup where eventually your gutters might overflow. Using larger diameter downspouts and downspout conductor head reservoirs inline high up on the downspout can help alleviate this and maintain flow.

Downspout Cleanout Box - - Inline Cleanout - - Downspout Elbows

Storage tanks, containers and rain barrels come in hundreds of styles, shapes, sizes and materials. They can range from costing virtually nothing such as old discarded metal or food grade plastic barrels or large containers to ornamental urns with decorative planters on top, architecturally attractive lined wooden containers, faux granite or terra cotta and even hidden tanks underground or low profile tanks under a deck. Use your own personal preference as to the look, shape, size and materials for your rain water collection container as long as you ensure the top is enclosed and other exposed openings such as the overflow outlet are screened to keep out mosquitos, bugs, wildlife and domestic small animals. Unless they are already present, the rain barrel or tank container should allow you to cut openings to attach or insert your downspout pipe and plumbing fittings such as a faucet to which you can also attach a water hose.

Rutland Gutter Supply is one of the largest downspout gutter suppliers in the world and can equip you with virtually everything you need to set up your rain collection system such as downspout diverters, downspout extensions, downspout brackets, downspout elbows, downspout offsets, downspout goosenecks, downspout adapters, downspout strainers, downspout clean-out box, downspout conductor leader heads and gutter screens. Visit Rutland's downspout diverter - rain diverter web page to gather more ideas, explore the links or just get started collecting rain water. Rain barrels or storage containers can be such stylized and very individual choice, you should decide what kind of look you want or prefer and easily obtain your choice from many local sources. Plumbing fittings for hose attachment, screening and caulking for your rain water container are all available from any hardware or home improvement store. This has been a general overview of rain water collection. In future blogs we will go into more detail on rain water collection system installation, sophisticated underground water tanks with pumps and water lines, filtering and disinfecting the rain water for potable use, rain water conservation benefits and useful ideas on constructing your own custom rain barrels or decorative water tanks.

Differences among Leader Conductor Heads

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:53:40 GMT

Conductor heads or leader heads as used in rain gutter systems are sometimes also called hopper heads, rainheads, scupper box, leader box or rain collector box. Conductor heads or leader heads provide both a functional and decorative feature to downspouts used in rain gutter systems and also when positioned below flat roof scuppers to collect their rain water run off. You will commonly find leader - conductor heads available in aluminum and copper material. Because they do add to the cost of a gutter system, leader heads might not be installed with cheap gutter systems or specified by some builders when cutting costs and sometimes corners can affect decisions. Functionally, conductor heads collect rain water flowing from gutter and feed it out to the downspout or downpipe below. The leader head helps alleviate any vacuum back pressure or congestion in the downspout, becoming increasingly important with each story of height a building has. Cosmetically a conductor head - leader head will enhance downspouts and gutter systems and become a visually heightened architectural feature. Proper selection of leader heads, downspouts and gutters assuredly enhance, beautify and add real value to commercial and residential property. To provide the most impact and lasting value, a leader head's style or form should be richly pleasing, they should exude or project quality and exhibit fine craftsmanship.

Copper Conductor Heads - Leader Heads with TIG welded construction

Some times conductor heads (leader heads) will be made more cheaply by using thinner walls and overlapping or tabbed construction employing solder and/or rivets on the seams. While cheaper, using overlapping material on the seams along with rivets, just does not offer a nicely finished, elegant appearance. Use of tabbed construction, butting material up the seams and then closing seams using solder will look better crafted than the overlapped - riveted approach, especially if the joints are tight and solder is tinted to color match the raw material. Several additional problems may eventually present themselves with any of these approaches. If seams are merely overlapped and riveted, leaks may develop as parts of the seam open up in time. Soldered seams may also crack with age, flexing and pressures. Northern climates where ice could expand inside a leader head will split the leaderhead open when a tabbed or soldered seam gives way. The same thing can happen to crimped downspouts when the seams can bulge open from ice pressure.

Mill finish aluminum conductor head - leader head with welded construction

A more elegant, durable approach is using thicker material and TIG welding to close up any seams and then polishing the seams. This provides not only a virtually flawless appearance and obvious fine craftsmanship, but also gives leader heads lasting strength and durability, to avoid the problems mentioned above. Yes, premium TIG welded aluminum and copper leader heads with thicker walls will cost a little more than their cheaper competition but they warrant that with their more pleasing appearance, requiring typically no repairs and little to no lifetime maintenance, with markedly increased durability and longevity. Quality TIG welded leader heads genuinely provide both real and perceived value and they truly do become one of the more striking architectural features of any commercial or residential building.

Weathered Copper Leader Conductor Heads with Round Downspouts

Gargoyle Rain Spout - Roof Scupper

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:32:47 GMT

Gargoyle has been defined as a water spout which projects from a roof gutter and is designed to drain or throw the rain water away from the walls of a building. Gargoyle water spouts or rain spouts preceded downspouts which drain water from rain gutters into a drain down pipe or downspout and have a horizontal downspout extension at the bottom end of the downspout that carries the rain water away from the foundation. The word gargoyle comes from the French word gargouille which means throat in English. The words gargle and gurgle also come from the same roots as gargoyle. Gargoyle was also derived from the Latin word gurgulio which means both throat and gurgling, which is the sound of water passing through a gargoyle rain water spout.

Gargoyles have been around over 4000 years dating back to ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Water spouts in the likeness of eagles, lions and other creatures, some mythological, were very common. Water spouts then began to resemble grotesque or monstrous creatures and were often positioned at each corner of the rooftop. Mythical creatures such as the chimera, centaur and griffin especially, resembling a lion with a curved beak like head and wings, were frequently the models for gargoyle water spouts. There is some speculation that griffins themselves were the early portrayal by sculptors of what a protoceratops dinosaur might look like, as protoceratops fossils had been discovered in ancient times. People's primeval dreams and fantasies could easily conjure up such monstrous images and they actually took delight in both the creation and viewing of such grotesque sculptures. Gargoyles beyond their function as rain water spouts also were believed to protect their building against evil spirits and imagined monstrous beasts. Gargoyle wings supposedly allowed them to also protect the whole surrounding area. Once drainpipes or downspouts were introduced in the 16th century, there was no longer a practical need for gargoyle rain water spouts, yet builders and architects continued to utilize them in their designs primarily as sculptures and carvings serving a traditional, symbolic, religious, folklore or decorative purpose.

Original Gargoyle Water Spouts From Castle

Gargoyle rain spouts like the one pictured above were usually positioned at the roof corners of buildings attached to gutters and extending out several feet to throw rain water away from the sides of a building. On a flat roof without gutters, a low wall commonly encircles the rooftop and several openings are cut into the bottom edges of this wall to allow rain water to drain off. These openings are called roof scuppers. Roof scuppers may extend out from the sides of a building thereby also functioning as rain spouts and the gargoyle rain spout above combines the functions of rain spout and roof scupper. Roof scuppers or drain outlets might also empty rain water directly into a wall mounted scupper box, rain collector box, leader head or conductor head below the scupper opening. A downspout drain pipe connected to this collection box, then carries the rain water down to the ground. Throwing rain water off the roof of a building using rain spouts and especially gargoyle water spouts was more prevalent centuries ago, whereas using downspouts or rain chains to drain away rain water are more commonly used today. Gargoyles today of course can be seen and admired in historic architecture and yet gargoyles still maintain a persistent attraction even in some modern architectural designs and decorative accents.

Copper Gargoyle Rain Spout - Roof Scupper

Rutland Gutter Supply & Architectural Copper Work fashioned the gargoyle rain spout pictured above, out of pure copper as a recreation of centuries old gargoyle water spouts which were restored from dilapidated gargoyles taken from the castle pictured above. Rutland Gutter supplies the largest selection of gutters. downspouts and leader heads in the U.S.A. and also the occasional gargoyle rain spout or gargoyle roof scupper to spew rain water, while also providing a distinctive decorative touch. As far as warding off evil spirits and monsters, who knows maybe some bit of that too.

Rain Gutter Reviews - Gutters Cost

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:36:18 GMT

Rain gutters sometimes do not get as much thought behind their selection as other architectural features of a home or commercial building. Customary gutters often employed on buildings might even be rather drab and sometimes an afterthought. Rather than accentuate and enhance the building's architecture some gutter choices if not just dull may actually detract from the appearance of the home or building and be very unappealing. Yet barring wide overhangs and a steeply graded slope away from the building, gutters are essential for draining rainwater runoff from a roof away from the building protecting overhangs, eaves, walls or siding, windows, doors and assist keeping the foundation, crawl space or basement of the structure dry, thereby guarding against mold, rot and staining. Gutters also help prevent erosion of the top soil and landscaping around a building and shield people, walkways and entrances from sheets of falling water. Yes, becoming aware of all the available choices and features of guttering makes you a better wiser consumer. It also gives you an opportunity to choose a rain gutter system that doesn't just blend nicely into your building's architecture but actually enhances and upgrades the features, appearance and curb appeal of your real estate investment. Possibly you may start seeing guttering in a whole new light, and in planning and choosing your new gutters wisely, you are certain to be rewarded time after time again.

Rain gutters run the gamut from your run of the mill, same old - same old, aluminum K-style ogee gutters with rectangular corrugated downspouts, which are staples in some neighborhoods on those cookie-cutter homes, to the high end gutters purposefully designed to enhance a building's architectural features such as your integrated guttering or wood box gutter and those premium, elegant half round copper gutters and zinc gutters. There are still more gutter material choices including plastic or vinyl gutters, galvanized steel, galvalume and stainless steel gutters. As you might expect there is a wide range of pricing from your low end cheap vinyl gutter on up to that pricey redwood and stainless steel guttering. Cost is definitely going to be a big factor in many people's decision making on gutter choice. Assessment of your true cost extends beyond simply viewing a gutter system's initial purchase price and also includes analyzing the longevity of the guttering, plus any maintenance time and cost involved during the lifespan of the gutters such as: repairs, re-caulking, re-painting and partial or total replacement of a deteriorated gutter system. Another often overlooked cost is how the guttering choice will affect your real estate value. A poor guttering choice will detract from the building appearance and value, a typically common or acceptably sensible choice will hopefully maintain and uphold the property value and a visionary or astute choice will increase the real estate attractiveness, curb appeal and property value. A final consideration is the growing number of concerned people out there who also appreciate making the most environmentally green and eco-friendly choice.

Gutter Materials and Cost
Vinyl Gutters - Frequently a choice for your do it yourself price conscious people, these plastic or vinyl gutters oftentimes in plain white and sometimes in assorted colors are rust free, easy to trim or cut to size and are relatively cheap initially. Though 10 foot gutter sections may only run $3 to $5 at discount home outlets, with all the connectors, hangers, brackets and downspouts figured in they will cost you more like $3 to $5 per foot installed. Vinyl gutters can get brittle with age and exposure to the elements and may not have the strength to stand up to large amount of snow, ice, gale force winds and weight from a ladder or person climbing on to a roof. Vinyl also expands and contracts more than metal and can be problematic. Mostly they frequently look cheap, detract from your property's appearance and have a relatively short lifespan to boot. PVC or poly vinyl chloride gutters are not a very green or eco-friendly choice because of their short life and environmental health concerns. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) termed PVC plastic as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created, dangerous to human health and the environment throughout it's life cycle. When it is produced or burned PVC releases dioxins, potent synthetic chemicals that cause cancer and harm the environment.

Galvanized Steel Gutters - Steel coated with zinc to inhibit rust, was a common choice, especially before aluminum gutters appeared on the scene, as galvanized gutters are fairly strong and can stand up to ladders, fallen branches and weight unlike cheaper vinyl gutters. Galvanized gutters are also stronger and less susceptible to dents and damage than aluminum. Galvanized steel gutter pricing may run only $4 to $9 per foot installed and are seemingly a economical and practical choice. Yet even thick galvanized gutters will eventually rust through despite most of them being painted. Paint grip steel guttering is still galvanized steel that has been given a phosphate bath adding some to the corrosion protection but primarily providing a surface with better adhesion for paint. There are usually many color choices provided and different qualities of paint available. Galvanized gutters have to be maintained, inspected for cuts, metal exposure deterioration and re-painted during their practical life ranging from 7 to 20 years, depending on how corrosive their locale is and how well they are maintained.

Aluminum Gutters - The most popular choice in gutters since they appeared on the market, aluminum gutters are rust free avoiding that concern with steel, iron and galvanized gutters. Aluminum is also lightweight making it easier and cheaper to work with. Aluminum gutters typically range in price from $5 to $9 per foot installed. Exposed to the elements however, aluminum will oxidize and wear quickly so aluminum is given protective coatings and paint. Just as with galvanized gutters, aluminum gutters need to be maintained and inspected regularly. Paint coatings have improved so during aluminum gutters typical useful lifespan of 25-30 years most paint coatings usually hold up barring scratches or damage to the paint. Aluminum gutters and downspouts are not as strong as steel gutters, especially the thinner offerings and can dent easily from traffic, branches, ladders, etc. Aluminum has a high rate of thermal expansion and contraction which can sometimes present problems especially in corners and seams. Gutter sections and terminations are typically caulked and as such the caulking will also have to be inspected and re-caulked. As with galvanized steel, there are usually many standard color choices available or custom paint matching can also be done at a higher cost. To have a different look than the same old common K-style aluminum guttering with rectangular corrugated downspouts, you can also obtain aluminum gutters in a more elegant half-round gutter shape and with smooth surface versus corrugated square or round downspouts. Hidden gutter hangers can be used or better yet decorative gutter and downspout brackets and a decorative leader head will improve appearance greatly, distinguish and enhance your home. Using thicker and so called primary aluminum material will add some to the strength, better able to withstand wear and abuse but still not up to the level of copper and steel.

Galvalume Gutters - In response to some of the limitations and disadvantages of galvanized steel gutters and aluminum gutters, galvalume gutters appeared on the scene. Galvalume is steel coated with a mixture of 55/45 per cent aluminum/zinc, resulting in a metal about as strong as galvanized steel but the with long-term rust and corrosion resistance more like aluminum or 2-4 times longer than plain galvanized steel. Galvalume can also be used as is without any paint and has a bright gray metallic appearance for about a decade gradually turning a dull weathered gray for the last 2-3 decades of it's typical lifespan. Processed galvalume can also be painted different colors just like aluminum gutters and while galvalume gutters cost a little more than either aluminum or galvanized steel gutters, galvalume not only will last longer, but is much stronger than aluminum and doesn't have the temperature expansion rate issues as does aluminum. Unfinished galvalume additionally enjoys the more green and eco-friendly avoidance of any kind of painting or coating.

Zinc Gutters - Zinc gutters have been popular in Europe for decades but have been slow to take hold in the U.S. Zinc guttering is usually made from an alloy of 99.5 percent zinc with small amounts of copper and titanium added. Similar to copper, zinc is usually utilized in it's raw unpainted state and will develop a protective patina that protects the zinc gutter from weathering and corrosion. Weathered zinc has an attractive matte gray look somewhat similar to pewter that eventaully turns a bluish gray and is increasingly being incorporated into architectural designs that promote that look. Zinc gutters when the natural patina forms properly can have a very long lifespan typically somewhere between 40 and 80 years depending on environment. Zinc gutters may run $15 to $20 per foot installed, which is much more than aluminum gutters initially, but zinc gutters have over twice the lifespan, require no paint and very little to no maintenance. Zinc gutters being a premium gutter usually have more care taken in the installation, including typically riveting and soldering the seams and corners, providing more reliability and often less leaks and water damage. Unpainted zinc gutters also do not have VOC's released into the environment from any coating or painting process which some gutters require, so with that and their long lifespan, zinc guttering is considered very eco-friendly and green. Zinc gutters main issues deal with thermal expansion, restrictive gutter forming and installation, including sensitive soldering and cold temperature (below 45 degree) working restrictions. With accommodations and extra care taken, zinc gutters are not only a viable option but are one of the better ones.

Stainless Steel Gutters- Stainless steel is a steel alloy containing chromium which gives stainless steel it's rust proof and shiny properties and is familiar to everyone as it is widely used in kitchens and for eating flatware. Stainless steel is one of the strongest guttering materials as are all the steel based types and is also one of the most durable and longest lasting with a lifespan typically between 50 to 70 years. Stainless steel gutter systems work great where the gutters and downspouts are subject to commercial, abusive and high traffic conditions. If you are not enamored of the shiny, metallic look of stainless steel or the maintenance, cleaning and polishing to keep that look, there is a copper plated stainless steel called CopperPlus having copper's changing earth tone colors and tin plated stainless steel products such as Ugitop which replace regular stainless steel's shiny look with a matte gray surface. Similar to zinc and copper, the durability, weathering ability, long life and elimination of painting and coatings make stainless steel very eco-friendly and a good value where stainless steel's extra strength is needed even with it's high initial cost of about $18-22 per foot installed. Like zinc and copper, in the long run it can be less costly than short-lived products.

Copper Gutters - Copper gutters have long been considered the ultimate in guttering and for good reason. Copper gutters have always been the most elegant and aesthetically pleasing and also the most durable and longest lasting of all gutter types. It is not uncommon for copper gutters to have a lifespan of 60 to 90 years, up to triple that for aluminum. Copper guttering like zinc gutters are mostly utilized in their natural, unfinished state as copper develops it's own distinctive, protective patina through the years. Copper performs great in industrial cities, coastal and marine environments. Copper's protective patina gives it the ability to ward off corrosion and it's long wearing character. Copper patina varies by climate but generally copper starts out a bright salmon copper and gradually turns brown, then shades of reddish brown, grayish brown, greenish brown then finally a variegated light pastel green after 25 some years. The rich changing earth tone color palette is one of the prized features of copper. Like zinc gutters, copper guttering is riveted and soldered, so there are rarely any issues with leaks or repairs. Copper gutters will definitely upgrade and enhance any home or commercial building and add true curb appeal and value. While copper gutters can cost $15 to $24 per foot installed new, with copper gutter's super long life, little to no required maintenance, no painting, no leaks and 100% recyclability while retaining up to 95 per cent of raw copper's value, a great case can be made for choosing copper gutters. Environmentally speaking, copper is considered one of the greenest and most eco-friendly materials available and copper's total environment cost is lower than initially cheaper materials. Total environmental cost includes the costs of raw processing, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, re-cycling and multiple replacement costs, so durability and longevity do factor in greatly. For people that want to enjoy the durability, longevity, value and environment friendly nature of copper but would prefer gray earth tones, lead coated copper is available with the same same attributes as copper other than color. For those that would prefer something other than a lead coated copper there is now also a zinc-tin coated copper option available called Freedom Gray, which retains all of copper's advantages, while providing architects, designers with a gray earth tone to work with. Lead coated copper or Freedom Gray offer advantages over zinc gutters in being easier and more versatile to form, less restictive and easier to install, while being more reliable and durable in any weather situation and longer lasting. Copper gutters may typically be seen with decorative gutter hangers, smooth seamless round copper downspouts and decorative downspout brackets and oftentimes a decorative, distinctive conductor head or leader collector box. So configured copper gutters will enhance a home to where they are seen analogous to valuable jewelry and accent pieces and always at home with the finest architecture.

Integral or Wood Gutters - Gutters integrated or built into a homes eaves were more popular decades ago as are hanging wood gutters. Both integral and wood gutters have always had problematic issues such as waterproofing, weathering, leaks, rotting, maintenance, painting or staining, durability and water damage. Oftentimes, the inside of a wood gutter and downspout was lined with a metal such as copper to protect the wood, like a gutter in a gutter. Wood gutters are really not installed so much anymore outside of restorations and wood gutters pricing can easily run from $15 to $24 per foot or more depending on type of wood, lining and workmanship involved. With integral and wood gutters, frequent inspection and maintenance are definitely recommended to help prevent leaks from causing possible water damage to roof, fascia and walls.

Although stainless steel, zinc and copper gutter installed prices appear significantly higher than for galvanized steel and aluminum gutters, this is not because raw material cost for these premium metals is so much higher. The higher installed cost for these premium gutters is primarily due to the cost of additional labor and better materials used in what is a more involved and better installation. Gutter seams and joints are most always riveted and soldered in the best installations rather than merely caulked and overlapped. This much more labor intensive operation provides stronger and more leak free joints over the lifespan of the gutter. Better work and tolerances in corners, miters and seams increases cost but results in a more trouble-free and better looking installation. This is the norm and expected by customers of premium gutters. If aluminum and galvanized steel gutters were installed in a similar fashion as zinc and copper gutters, there would be a much smaller price difference. Thicker gauge aluminum gutters with a higher quality paint job such as Kynar is significantly higher quality and also higher cost than typical thin aluminum gutters with plain baked on paint finish that are much more typical. Thicker metal and better paint result in a better gutter that withstands more abuse and lasts longer. Using better materials and more meticulous aluminum gutter installations, though at much higher cost, would lessen such commonly seen occurrences as drooping gutters, buckled gutters, badly faded gutters, misshapen or bent gutters, leaking gutters, peeling or flaked off paint. True for most any product or service, you certainly get what you pay for and the same applies to rain gutters.

Rutland Gutter Supply has the largest selection of all different types and sizes of commercial and residential gutters and downspouts in the U.S.A. Rutland fabricates rain gutters and downspouts out of any gutter material and also produces custom styles and sizes of rain gutters upon request. Rutland Gutter Supply stocks all the essential gutter supplies, gutter parts and downspout accessories needed for a complete eavestrough rain gutter system installation of the highest quality including decorative gutter hangers, downspout brackets - downpipe straps and custom conductor leader head all provided factory direct.

Rain Chain

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:31:54 GMT

Rain chain or "kusari doi" in Japanese, have been used for centuries on Japanese homes, temples, public and commercial buildings as a functional yet lovely alternative to our traditional rain gutter downspouts. Rain chains have also been incorporated for their decorative beauty into many tranquil Japanese rain chain gardens. Today rain chain have become more well known outside Japan and increasingly prevalent around the rest of the world. Rain chain used in rain water drainage are typically hung from a roof's rain gutters or roof scupper box (leader head), taking the place of downspouts or gutter downpipe. Rain chain like the name implies can be as simple as chain links or a variation of chain loop styles. Rain chain can also be a visually pleasing string of cups or funnels, most often shaped like flowers or bells and hollow with open bottoms. Pictured below in order of left to right, top to bottom, are the simple link rain chain, single loop rain chain, rotated double link rain chain (or double loop), Japanese rain chain bells, Tulip rain chain, Bluebell flower rain chain, Lily rain chain and a rustic Scalloped rain chain. All the rain chains pictured here are fashioned from heavy weight pure copper. Copper Rain Chain is the preferred choice for it's timeless elegance, aesthetics, weathering ability, durability and natural beauty of copper's ever changing patina throughout the years.

Rain Chain Links, Chain Loops, Double Link and Japanese Bell Rain Chain

Tulip Rain Chain, Bluebell Flower Rain Chain, Lily Rain Chain and Scalloped

Copper Rain Chain Basin

Rain chains can drain directly on to the ground beneath them, or on a small patch or pit of landscaped gravel or pebbles to which the rain chain is anchored with a weight. Often times the rain water from rain chains is directed into a decorative rain chain basin underneath the rain chain. A rain chain basin or catch basin can be any suitable container. Ceramic, terra cotta, stoneware pots or copper basin - copper bowls are frequently used. A weight at the end of the rain chain or a hook in the basin are used to keep the rain chain centered above the catch basin. Some people use rain water for gardening or other uses such as washing their hair.

Rain Water Flow Through Rain Chains

A rain chain is a visual and aural delight and the look and sound of the swirling, falling water can be mesmerizing and relaxing to watch during a rain shower. The lovely sounds they make with water splashing and cascading through them will vary with the type of rain chain but generally encompass a soft bell-like tinkle or splash with light raindrops to a soothing, small roar of sound like river rapids in a heavy downpour.

Rain Chain How To Installation Diagram
Click above to view preferred rain chain mounting

Rain Chain Funnel Outlet Reducers
"Used to reduce size of opening in gutters to match rain chain"

Copper Gutter With Rain Chain Funnel Taps Installed
"Demonstration picture shows assortment of rain chain"

It is important to have the right amount of rain chain funnel installed on a length of gutter so an individual rain chain is not overloaded by heavy rain water flow, especially when using smaller width rain chain or links. How many rain chain funnel you use depends on several factors including: how long your gutter section is; diameter of your gutter outlets and rain chains; how heavy your normal flow of rain water is.

Roof Scupper Box Rain Gutter Leader Head

Water from a rain gutter outlet or from a roof scupper can empty directly into a leader head or rain collector scupper box and you can then attach a rain chain directly to the leader head or scupper box outlet. Outlet size on leader head and rain collector scupper box can be custom sized typically from 4 inches down to 2 inches to match the desired diameter for use with your rain chain. You can install a bolt across the bottom of the leader box outlet about an inch from the bottom opening and then attach the rain chain directly to this bolt. If your are not using leader heads, then mount rain chain using hidden gutter hangers and U-bolts.

Leader Head

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:47:24 GMT

Rutland Gutter Supply has now added nine additional leader heads to their large growing selection of leader head. Rutland has 64 decorative leaderheads in stock to upgrade the finest aluminum and copper gutter systems and enhance the architectural features of your home or commercial building. Leader heads are also sometimes referred to as conductor head, rainhead, hopper head, scupper box or as a rain collector box. Leader head are installed inline on the downspouts or downpipes of guttering or eavestroughs - see second picture below for example. Leader heads collect and disperse the water from rain gutters through one or more downspouts. Functionally, leader head assist in draining large volumes of water and aesthetically they truly dress up a home's exterior. Leader head installed with attractive guttering and downspouts and often in conjunction with decorative gutter hangers and decorative downspout brackets too have been described as jewelry for the home or "bling". See the first picture below of a home with lovely half round copper gutters, decorative gutter hangers, round copper downspout pipe and decorative downspout brackets. The second picture below shows a similarly outfitted round copper gutter system but with a copper leader head also installed on the copper downspout, enhancing the beauty of the home's architectural copper work even still more. The best quality leader heads use thicker metals and have TIG welded, polished invisible seams for the longest lasting beauty.

Copper Gutters - Copper Downspouts - Decorative Brackets

Copper Gutter System with Copper Leader Head Installed

Rutland also is involved frequently with restoration work of historic buildings and will re-create original leader head with new copper leader head preserving the original design. See picture below showing a very old original leader head design taken from a building with the new restored leader head replacement right along side of it. Rutland can also craft custom leader heads for you from your own design and specifications, fabricated with your metal of choice. You may view fifty-five leader head - conductor head designs on the web page at Rutland Leader Heads and additionally you may also view Rutland's nine new leader head designs below.

Old Historic Leaderhead - New Restored Leader Head

New Rutland Leader Head Additions

Leader Head shown with Copper Gutter System and Copper Roof

There is also a YouTube Video featuring Leader Head LH057 available on Rutland's earlier blog Copper Leader Head Restoration Project

Copper Leader Head Restoration Project

Thu, 21 May 2009 17:53:33 GMT

The custom copper leader head (also known as conductor head, hopper head, rain collector box) in video below is a recreation of a cast iron leader head that adorned a church in England for centuries. Rutland Gutter Supply specializes in the highest quality of custom architectural copper work and copper gutter systems. There are over sixty-five different leader head designs now in Rutland's growing collection. View some of these custom copper leader heads and other custom copperwork, such as copper domes, copper cupolas, copper finials, copper chimney caps, copper spires, copper gutters, etc at Rutland Gutter Supply & Architectural Copper Work. Leader heads are mounted inline on the downspouts being fed from a building's gutters. Leader heads mix air in with the water flowing down through the downspouts, eliminating the back pressure or vacuum. See picture below of an installed copper leader head and copper guttering.

Custom leader heads are typically manufactured from pure copper, zinc, mill finish aluminum or lead coated copper on the finest commercial and residential gutter systems. Copper guttering and copper leader heads particularly, can last 80-100 years, require little to no maintenance, are aesthetically pleasing, they can be recycled nearly 100% and contribute to green building objectives. Leader heads add both a decorative (as seen in picture) and functional touch. Watch video below of a custom leader head that has been recreated from a centuries old one.

Copper Leader Head - Restoration Project Video on YouTube

Gutter Hangers - Focus on Gutter Brackets

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:53:59 GMT

Rutland Gutter Supply is family owned and operated. Their manufacturing facility is located in beautiful Orlando, Florida. They have over 40 years of experience in the construction and sheet metal fabrication business. Rutland operates some of the most modern CNC machinery available, from computerized roll forming machines to a fully automated 4" round seamless, welded pipe machine. They have many customers globally and have installed copper gutters and architectural copperwork spanning Florida and the Caribbean. Rutland Gutter Supply’s products are marketed and sold throughout the United States, Canada and Internationally.

Rutland’s products can be fabricated in Mill Finish Aluminum, Zinc, Lead Coated Copper, Stainless Steel, Copper, Galvanized Steel and Galvalume. They stock the largest selection of custom gutter supply components including decorative hangers, decorative brackets and pipe straps, flat and radius end caps, box mitres, elbows, rain chains, copper pipe and custom leader heads with copper castings.

Rutland’s latest line of products include fully welded, hand made 48 oz custom kitchen hoods, island range hoods, fireplace hoods and copper billiard hoods, most incorporating hand finished designs. Rutland is able to hand craft any view or scene of your choice into them as these are truly custom design hoods. Additional items available for your copper kitchen are copper pot racks, copper bowl, copper sink, copper basin, hammered copper range hoods and copper fireplace hoods. All Rutland's copper hoods and sinks are available as custom copper hammered designs created by artisans who can create the truly personal design touch for your "copper kitchen".

Rutland also fabricates both stock and custom copper chimney caps, copper cupolas, copper stove pipe and roof vents, copper gable vents, copper dormers, copper roof tiles, copper seam roofs, copper dome roofs, copper chimney turbines, copper roof scuppers or rain spouts, copper finials, copper spires, copper steeples, copper balustrades, copper pineapples, copper balls, copper spheres, copper dock lights, copper fish elbow downspouts and copper dragons, etc. Virtually every architectural copper work and metal fabrication has been or can be accomplished by Rutland.

Gutter Hangers, Gutter Hangers, Gutter Hangers . .

Rutland stocks the largest selection of gutter hangers in the country. Rutland offers decorative gutter hangers such as their seahorse, rope, scroll, combo and acanthus gutter hangers available in cast copper and also in powder coated finished or mill finish cast aluminum. They are designed to fit Rutland’s seamless gutters ranging in half round gutter sizes from 5” to 10”. Various size wedges from 1” to 2.5” are available in both cast copper and aluminum to properly align the gutter system to various fascia angles.

Rutland also stocks many different types of stamped and hidden gutter hangers, all available in a wide selection of materials and sizes. Hidden hangers are available for half round, K-style, quarter round and box gutters in a wide variety of sizes and materials including copper, aluminum and stainless steel. Rutland also stocks many roof mounted, rafter tail mounted and fascia mounted gutter hangers for both half round and K-style gutters including copper, aluminum and stainless steel. Many different sizes of these are stocked by Rutland Gutter Supply and scroll design hangers are available for fascia, roof and rafter mounting.

Rutland Gutter Supply’s superior selection of in stock gutter system parts, components or accessories is immense and unmatched in the U.S. Rutland offers next day shipping on most of Rutland’s gutter supplies as virtually all gutter system components are in stock. In addition to having the largest selection of gutter hangers, Rutland has the largest selection of decorative downspout pipe straps, available in cast copper and aluminum, as well as custom and standard pipe straps. Rutland’s selection of leader heads (else known as conductor heads-collector heads-hopper heads) is again the largest in the U.S.A and most of them are in stock and available with or without one of Rutland’s custom decorative castings incorporated. Rutland strives to have the largest selection on hand for same day shipping. Rutland also encourages it’s customers to submit custom requests as Rutland has extensive custom fabrication experience and Rutland’s facilities and operations are conducive to custom metal work.