Rain Chain Medium Square Cups - Black Rain Chain, Medium Square Cups - Matte Black Powdercoat Finish. Beautifully clean, straight lines. Made of aluminum and then powdercoated in Matte Black. Individually crafted by hand, each side is welded for superior strength and durability. Each Rain Chain comes with a gutter attachment piece (V shaped piece of metal). We recommend purchasing the optional Gutter Installation Kit with every Rain Chain. To prevent damage in transit and reduce packaging volume, the upper wires are shipped separately from the cups, so some assembly is required -- it takes just a few minutes with no tools. Powdercoating will last on exterior products; paint will not! Avoid cheap copies with painted parts! Powder coating is a type of coating which includes metal that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin". It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals. Rain Chain Medium Square Cups - Black Specifications: Cup Width: 3 1/4" Cup Length: 3" Bottom Opening: 1-5/8" Cups on an average 8 foot length Rain Chain: 19 Installation of the Rain Chain Medium Square Cups - Black: Installation is usually straight forward and simple. Rain chains hang from the hole where the downspout was, using the gutter attachment piece provided. When there is a mismatch because the hole is larger than the chain, a separate Gutter Installation Kit is used to reduce the hole and focus water downward onto (or into) the chain. The Installation Kit also provides an outlet tube, preventing water from creeping along the underside of the gutter and dripping off. About Rain Chains: Rain chains are a beautiful and functional alternative to traditional, closed gutter downspouts. Guiding rain water visibly down chains or cups from the roof to the ground, rain chains transform a plain gutter downspout into a pleasing water feature. From the soft tinkling of individual droplets to the soothing rush of white water, they are a treat to listen to. Rain chains ('kusari doi' in Japanese) in concept are not a new idea. For hundreds of years, the Japanese have used the roof of their homes to collect water, transporting it downward with chains and finally depositing the rain water into large barrels for household water usage. Japanese temples often incorporate quite ornate and large rain chains into their design. Rain chains have been spotted in South America, where chain is easier to obtain that machined downspouts. Link designs are the closest to the original form. They tend to splash more than cup styles, and this may be important when they are considered for areas that are near doors, windows or walkways. From plain link chain to more fancy combinations of shapes, link chains offer the most open, airy look and clean lines. They are often used with modern architectural designs, but also look appropriate in rustic settings like cabins and log homes. The Zen Loops and Double Loops chains have the strongest Asian design influence. Cup designs are an improvement over links chains in performance and efficiency. With open bottoms, they act as funnels, focusing the water from one cup down into the next one. Even in heavy rainfall, cup styles splash very little, so they can be placed anywhere. Cups come in many shapes and sizes, from the cute 2? Fluted Cups to the massive XL Scallop Cup, the largest cup style available. Rain Chains are sold by the foot. Most standard Rain Chains are 8' feet long. At the Bottom: The Japanese often put a ceramic or stoneware pot beneath the chain which fills with water, so that when it rains, the water drips from the chain into the pot, creating a beautiful display. You can make a square out of redwood or cedar beneath the chains and fill it with small pebbles. If it is damp regularly, moss will grow between the pebbles. You can also place a single paver tile or a few medium size stones under the chain to break the fall of the water. Hammered Copper and Aluminum Dishes, with a loop in the center, are sold separately and work perfect with Rain Chains.
