The 4 Best Ideas on How to Hide Gutter Downspouts This 2018: Guide and Helpful Tips

Most people ask how to hide gutter downspouts because some of them really look like an eyesore. Every small aspect of a residential property from the roof to the color of its downspout will matter aesthetically. Gutters and downspouts play a crucial role for any Manchester CT property.

So, if you have a stainless-steel downspout glimmering in the sun outshining the curb appeal of your property, you'll want to tone it down to create a visually-appealing balance.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to hide them effectively and creatively. After reading this, you will:

• Know more about easy yet effective and creative ways how to hide gutter downspouts
• Learn how to paint downspouts
• Or hide them with greenery
• And consider using rain chains as stylish and tasteful substitutes

Paint It

The most economical way to improve the appearance of your downspout is to paint it. Most people find this as the suitable answer to "how to hide gutter downspouts."

Before you begin painting, make sure you have the following:

• Specialized paints for metal objects with exterior reinforcement against weathering
• The right paint color that matches the siding and overall hue of the Manchester CT property. Take a photo of your exterior wall with the downspout and take it to the hardware store for easy comparison.
• Oxygen Bleach Solution
• 180-Grit Sandpaper (the ones with bigger sand/stones)
• Metal Paint Primer
• A normal-sized paintbrush

How to Hide Gutter Downspouts With Paint

1. Remove the Gutter Downspouts Carefully: Be careful during this process. You asked "how to hide gutter downspouts" and not how to remove them. You're just removing it to paint them over.
2. Clean With Oxygen Bleach: To make sure the paint sticks smoothly and effectively, clean the downspout with the solution.
3. Sandpaper Any Rusted Areas: To help the paint stick.
4. Apply a Thin Coat of Metal Primer on the Surface
5. Let it Dry for 30-60 Minutes
6. Apply First Paint Layer: Remember to work slowly and avoid overlaps where possible. You may choose to paint only the front-facing area or both front and back.
7. Add 2-3 additional coats: To make the color blend well and strong in appearance.
8. Let all Coats Dry for 24 Hours
9. Then Replace Downspouts on The Roof

If you have difficulties replacing your downspouts, we recommend calling a reliable contractor to help you.

That wasn't so hard was it? But if this is not the best answer for you then consider the next solution!

Make it One With Nature

This one involves a bit of patience (on the growing-plants side of things) due to unpredictable plant growth. There are multiple ways how to hide gutter downspouts with greenery and even your garden. Just make sure the roof shape of your Manchester CT property agrees with these plants too!

Vines

These plants have slender and bendable branches. This allows them to grow in any direction. So, if you place them on top of the downspout and give them nourishment daily, they will grow downward and hide the downspout pipe.

Alternatively, you can wrap the vine around the downspout to "train" it to grow along the material.

Here are some vine types you can use to hide downspouts effectively:

• Evergreen Clematis Vines
• Cup-and-Saucer Vines
• Annual Sweet Pea Vines

Trellis

If you've ever seen someone's yard with a trellis, you'd be sure to find a downspout behind it. Sometimes, you'd even find some gardening tools hidden right behind them too.

You can grow vines or other plants on your trellis. The growth will create a natural green wall allowing you to hide your downspout.

The best thing about plants is they blend well with almost any color of siding or exterior wall. Building the trellis itself is not too expensive at all.

Tall Leafy Plants

If you have potted plants that grow tall, you can use their height to hide the length of the downspout. In addition, their pots will catch the downspout overflow.

However, make sure they're not directly underneath the downspout to avoid overwatering.

Use Rain Chains

How to hide gutter downspouts without painting or plants? Simple! Remove them completely!

Then, replace them with rain chains.

These chains give properties a rustic, semi-industrial (think stylish steampunk) look. However, if you use other "linked" or "chained" materials such as wire-linked spoons, teapots, and other materials, you can introduce a creative, entertaining, or even humorous aesthetic

You will need the following to install rain chains for your Manchester CT property:

• Tin Snips
• A Ruler
• Tape Measure
• The rain chain material of your choice either the conventional chain or unusual linked materials

Getting Started

1. Remove the Gutter Downspouts: This time, you'll store it somewhere else or discard it. We recommend keeping it around in case you don't like the rain chains
2. Cut Gutter Opening Into Vertical Strips: Measure the cuts around 1 inches apart. It should look like a Hula skirt.
3. Use a Hanging Bar: You can buy these in almost any hardware store. If you bend the opening strips inward, it will prevent the hanging bar from slipping.
4. Attach your Rain Chain: Before finalizing the installation of your hanging bar, insert the first link of the rain chain

Rain chains are fun because you have plenty of materials to choose from to add a unique aesthetic to your gutters. As mentioned earlier, you can use spoons or even metal teapots. Other projects have used the following materials:

• String-linked pebbles
• Iron cups
• Smal metal pails chained together
• Old, thick plastic cups
• Linked sea shells
• Zip Ties
• Pine Cones
• Acorns

Wrapping-Up

How to hide gutter downspouts in the best, effective, and creative ways possible has never been more fun and productive than these three.

Remember, if you're about to start one, make sure you have the right materials on hand. In addition, be careful when handling your gutters.

In addition, when planning to modify your gutters, ask yourself if it's worth doing first. Sometimes, your gutter already looks amazing from the outside and requires no additional modification.

Unless you believe the aesthetic improvement will make your property more pleasing, then hiding your gutter downspouts will be unnecessary.

Have you modified your downspouts recently? Care to share how you underwent your project? We'd love to hear from you below!