If you are looking for a really nice look for your downspouts, then look no further than what you are about to learn here. Since you found this article on this site, you must have some keen interest or at the very least, a curiosity about these rain chains. They’re actually nothing new, they’ve been around for centuries in Japan and other countries in the Far East.
Like much of the home design elements in the Far East, simplicity is the name of the game. This is very present in the design of these beautiful pieces of ‘gutter art’ for lack of a better term. Because of their origin, these are often referred to as Japanese rain chains. Despite the history, these can now be found all over.
The original versions of these looked like a connection of binder rings formed into a long chain, hence the name. They are often made of copper and age to develop a very attractive patina on them. Add water and that process occurs even more quickly. There was a time when these were made of bronze as well, you can still find some made this way.
The design of these downspout chains can be as simple as these interconnected hoops or loops or as ornate as individually sculpted or formed animals. Cups and flowers are also very popular shapes to use. Their basic function is to break up the harsh flow of the water from the gutter through the downspout and on to your landscaped area.
These replace your traditional downspout. To achieve a really nice look, you can have copper gutters installed and then finish off the downspout areas with these nice rain chains of copper material. For that matter, get a completely clean look by using seamless gutters.
If you’re at all interested in staying in your home for some time, then go with these more expensive options. However, if you plan to move in any near-term time frame, then you’ll want to avoid the copper seamless gutters. You can still get the rain chains though as they vary in price from $50-$150 USD. Additionally, they attach and mount quite simply, so they can removed prior to you leaving your home. A new downspout can be installed with no damage to the gutter itself. If you’ve never heard of these, I’m excited for you to take a look at these rain chains.