Take a Designer Approach to Your Downspout
These cool, contemporary drains will maintain your home’s good looks and keep the water flowing
It’s time to look at downspouts, drains and gutters in a fresh new light. While they are, admittedly, some of the least sexy architectural elements of a house, they are incredibly important for funneling water off your roof and away from your home, preventing leaks and water damage, and even protecting the building’s structural integrity. And proving you don’t need to skimp on form for function, here are some creative and contemporary downspouts that will have you reassessing your pipe dreams.
Long and linear. One single silver downspout extends from a horizontal fixture and stands out against the green siding of this house.
Lone soldier. A short, squat gutter can be seen extending from the top of this elevated timber volume, to filter rainwater out and over the landscape below.
Metallic blend. This copper pipe has a golden hue in harmony with its warm, wood-clad backdrop, while its vertical line is in striking contrast to the horizontal boards.
Aging in place. Similarly, an old-style down pipe is a harmonious addition to this original brick home and its red cedar-clad addition. The wood has been left untreated to allow a natural silvering process, much as the pipe will develop a patina with age.
Jutting out. This gutter stretches well beyond the walls as if the house is reaching out in three different directions.
Read more about sloping roofs
Read more about sloping roofs
And at the other side of the house, it extends with a strong horizontal line in contrast to the curved wall below it.
Faux structure. The angled drain pipe on this backyard balcony mimics the angled lines of the structural columns as if it too is supporting the awning.
Rain chain. Rain chains are a decorative way to channel water away from a home’s foundation. They attach to the gutter through the hole where the downspout would normally be and are secured to the ground to prevent excessive movement.
Falling on stone. Traditional chains are a minimalist, unobtrusive feature, especially on contemporary homes that often play with industrial materials. Here, the rain chain deposits excess water into a pebbled grate.
Cup runneth over. This is another type of rain chain, which adds a more ornamental element to the exterior of a house. Originally developed in Japan, it makes an attractive water feature while funneling water away from the roof.
Classic good looks. Copper pipes, which are placed symmetrically and rhythmically at the corners of this traditional white house, can’t help but stand out as elegant features.
Awesome awning. An angled downspout pierces this awning above the front door and filters excess water into a decorative water tray at ground level.
Fine romance. On this handsome home, copper pipes have a linearity that flows with and across the architecture of the house, while the color is in harmony with its wooden features.
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