The Rain Gutters

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Something i don't like about rain gutters: they try to fake being part of the architecture of the building they are attached to. I prefer them to look functional. And those aluminum or steel gutters are soooo thin and weak, leaning a ladder against one will permanently dent it. And the joints leaks or come apart. So i made some from 3 inch dia pvc drain pipe. It's even cheaper than "real" rain gutters!

About to start cutting. The "clamp" material is 4 inch steel channel, held together with visegrips. I use a metal abrasive blade in the saw, as it is extremely unlikely to grab. You must be able to cut a straight line with an abrasive blade, or the sides will bind and melt to the pvc! Keep the kerf open behind the saw with scraps of 1/8 thick steel bits.

 

 

Finished the two cuts. This forms the gutter part.


This is how i cut the couplings. I did this freehand. Yep i am that good. You should not do this unless you are as good as i am. Seriously.


The left side is glued, the right side is there because i needed it there for the moment.


Here's the 1.25 pvc drain pipe from the 3 inch "T" fittings, to the drains in each cement column. The four small pipes sticking up in a cluster there are for the recessed downlighting under the edge of the column's base cap. The multiple stubs of rebar were to anchor the top cap of the column, which won't happen now, since it's so easy to give my property right to a neighbor's dog.


After all the gutter was up, i went back and installed drip edging under the tin. I may need to goo the drip edge to the tin, just because the tin is directly on the wood, which is warped, as wood does.