Gutter Alternative - RainHandler?

[rharman]

We don't have gutters (2-story house) - they would totally ruin the look of the house as we have custom-cut rafter tails.

I have a few strategic areas I would like to reduce hard runoff from. I was looking at the RainHandler (louvers) as an option.

Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with these? Any other options?

Thanks.

www.rainhandler.com

 

[CNGsaves]

Have you not been reading the newspaper . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . It NEVER Rains in Southern California !!

 

[rharman]

Have you not been reading the newspaper . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . It NEVER Rains in Southern California !!

We had "measurable" rain the other day. 1/10".

 

[SteveeP]

I have had these on my single story ranch home for a few years. I am not overly impressed with them. Do they work - yes, with light/med rainfall. Heavy rainfall - not so much. They attach pretty easy, so maybe buy a couple sections and try them in your most troublesome area and see what you think.

 

[theoldwizard1]

If you don't have any valleys to concentrate the water, why bother !

The real issue is preparing the ground to accept the water with minimal back splash on to the siding and a way to carry the water away from the foundation.

 

[Fishplate]

On my 1897 farmhouse, we put in French drains instead of gutters. Dig a trench where the water lands, and put in #57 gravel and corrugated drain pipe with a sock over it. Worked a treat and wasn't obtrusive in any way. Hired a starving artist to do the digging...

 

[rharman]

It's not the ground issue or fall from the house - that is not a problem.

I have some awnings on some lower windows that I don't like having the force of straight runoff hitting and a bump-out for a fireplace where the stucco on top takes a beating.

I figure if I can soften/spread the runoff then I'll be ahead of where I am now. The RainHandlers theoretically should throw the water further away from the house than I get now.

 

[FTWingRiders]

I keep looking these also to shed the rain away from the porch. Still on the fence, but might try it sooner or later. I'll be watching to see if anybody else chimes in..

 

[CNGsaves]

I've not seen any houses with those installed.

However, I've seen both houses and businesses install diverters on the roof itself to direct rainfall away from areas they don't want water (like over a doorway). They are basically sturdy drip edge turned upside down and attached at an angle on roof (several feet up from bottom), directing water to different path.

Maybe a combination of diverter and rainhandler would cure your situation.

 

[kbs2244]

the old wizard has the best idea.
Find out where, after you do any remodeling, the drip line falls.
(It will tell you with an obvious drip trench)
Then put in a buried drain tile using that drip line as a guide.
It will tell you not only where to put it, but where to aim it.
(Water flows downhill.)