Rain chains, a feature of Japanese architecture, are a pleasant alternative to downspouts. The Japanese translation is kusari doi, and for centuries the chains have hung from eaves of Buddhist temples to funnel rainwater from roof to earth (or into a barrel or catchment tank).
Japanese architecture takes inspiration from the natural world, and kusari doi are a reminder that rainwater that falls from the sky onto a roof is a celebration rather than a nuisance. Instead of flowing downward in an enclosed downspout, water runs visibly down a rain chain to become an aesthetically pleasing element in a landscape. A rain chain system also creates rhythmic sounds as water gushes or drips, ebbing and flowing as the weather changes.
Are rain chains for you? Here is everything you need to know to decide:
Above: Photograph by Lemank.
What are rain chains?
A substitute for downspouts, rain chains can be simple links of metal or decorative cups to catch water gently before sending it on its way to the ground. If you want to install them yourself, you can buy a rain chain installation kit (hardware included).
Increasingly popular with architects, rain chains are a visually unobtrusive feature that can blend well with many styles, from modern to traditional. The simpler the design of the chain, the more easily it will blend into the background.
Above: Rain chains also can be used in conjunction with traditional gutter-and-downspout-configurations, as in this instance where rain chain suspended from a custom copper leader head funnels water into a lower-level 5-inch, half-round, seamless copper gutter. Photograph via Morris Heating and Sheet Metal.
Above: In Italy, a rain chain hangs from a gutter leader to create curb appeal for a front entryway. Photograph by Bruce Sterling.
How sturdy are rain chains?
Above:When landscape designers or architects specify rain chains, they often use custom, heavy duty hardware and fittings, as on Red Bark Design's freestanding pergola in a Tucson, AZ backyard. Rainwater is directed from a corrugated metal roof to run down a steel rain chain, into a custom gutter system at ground level which directs the flow to the garden (to irrigate native plants).
Red Bark Design's pergola with rain chains was a finalist for Best Outbuilding in the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards.
Above: Red Bark Design's rain chains in Tucson funneled water into a gutter system that directs rainwater toward nearby garden plants.
Above: A rain chain in Kyoto. Photograph by Portable Urbanist.
Are rain chains right for my house?
A general rule of thumb is a roof needs a 3-foot eave to funnel water effectively to a rain chain. If you live in an area with high winds or heavy rainfall, a rain chain may not be be able to funnel all the water away from the foundation of your house; consider a perimeter French drain to add drainage.
What fittings and hardware do rain chains require?
Above: If you are planning a DIY rain chain installation project, you can use simple components such as (clockwise, from upper right) a Polished Copper Leader ($64.99 from Architectural Depot); cast aluminum Garden Stakes ($22.99 apiece from Rain Chains in a Nutshell); a Copper Basin Bowl to catch water ($35.99 from Amazon); Cast Copper Rain Chain Links ($28 per linear foot from Rain Chains in a Nutshell), and a Copper Rain Chain Installation Kit With Cross Bar Debris Blocker ($24.95 from Monarch Rain Chains).
How much do rain chains cost?
Compared to a traditional gutter-and-downspout system which can cost as much as $32 per linear foot for installation (for copper), rain chains are easy on the budget. At the low end, a 10-foot metal 9-Gauge Accessory Chain is $44.46 from Home Depot. At the high end, an 8.5-foot length of decorative copper Kanji Cups Rain Chain with 13 cups is $269.99 from Rain Chains in a Nutshell.
Above: Rain turns to ice in cold temperatures.
Rain Chain Recap
Pros:
- Less expensive than gutters.
- Aesthetically pleasing with a wide range of architectural styles.
- The sound of running water is a pleasant background noise in a garden.
Cons:
- Less sturdy than traditional metal downspouts.
- Handle less capacity than a downspout.
- Less effective in areas with high winds.
- Water can freeze on the chains in winter, creating a heavy weight on eaves.
Are you trying to direct the flow of water away from a house or into the garden? See:
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