My RGGS build

tnkrer · June 10, 2015

RGGS - Rain Gutter Grow System - for more information search for Larry Hall on YouTube/facebook

I have multiple SWCs and they have worked very well for me. I also grow in ground and water manually. When I came across RGGS, I like the separation of watering system and growing system. In a usual SWC, both the systems are inseparable and so are less flexible and need more maintenance work. I also felt that separation of these two systems allows me to use less grow media per plant. I looked around and found that we have couple of TVers using RGGS and Luigiwu helped out by providing details of his build and others helped with more ideas. So here is my build. Hopefully it will help someone when they are building their version of RGGS or some other container system.

Rain Gutter Watering system
materials -
2 - 10' 2x4 PT lumber
1 - 8' 2x4 PT lumber - to make 6-8 7.5" pieces (or use 2x4 pieces lying around in your garage)
1 - 8' 5/4x6 PT decking - again to make 6-8 4.5" pieces
1 - vinyl gutter
few 1 1/2" screws to make the seats
box of grk 2 1/2" long screws to attach the seats to the lumber
2 - end caps
1 - kerrick float valve
pressure reducer, hose to irrigation tubing adapter, irrigation tubing ...

I liked Luigiwu's idea of not piercing the gutter, so this system just lets the gutter sit on the wooden structure. This also helps towards my goal of ease of maintenance/repair

Actual dimensions of 2x4 are 1.5" x 3.5"
Actual dimensions of 5/4x6 decking are 1" x 5.5"
The depth of the gutter I bought was 2.5"
So gutter depth + decking board is just the right height for a 2x4 sitting on its edge.
The gutter is 4.5" wide. So cut 6 pieces 4.5" long from the decking board
Cut 6 pieces 7.5" long from the smaller 2x4. Then attach the 4.5" piece right in the middle of the 7.5" piece

These 6 pieces (seats) are going to form the base for the watering structure. The 10' 2x4 is going to be attached to the 2x4 part of this piece while the gutter is going to sit on the decking part of this piece. The pictures should make it clearer

pieces created and laid out. (I had 8' lumber, so I joined pieces to make 10' to match the gutter)

The gutter is 10' ft long, but the end caps fit outside the gutter, so at the end, the gutter becomes wider than 4.5". So you need to trim the 10' lumber to match the length of the part of the gutter that is 4.5". I had to trim about 2"

Now flip them and attach the seats to the 2x4 lumber. Use clamps when driving the screws. Drill pilot holes before driving the screws.

Flip the structure, this is your base for holding the gutter

Attach the end caps and put the gutter in. (photo without end caps, The end caps are a PITA to fit.)

(did not take pictures after I fit the end caps and installed kerrick valve)
That is your watering system.
Containers coming up in the next post later ..

June 10, 2015	#1
tnkrer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: MA 6a/b Posts: 352	My RGGS build RGGS - Rain Gutter Grow System - for more information search for Larry Hall on YouTube/facebook I have multiple SWCs and they have worked very well for me. I also grow in ground and water manually. When I came across RGGS, I like the separation of watering system and growing system. In a usual SWC, both the systems are inseparable and so are less flexible and need more maintenance work. I also felt that separation of these two systems allows me to use less grow media per plant. I looked around and found that we have couple of TVers using RGGS and Luigiwu helped out by providing details of his build and others helped with more ideas. So here is my build. Hopefully it will help someone when they are building their version of RGGS or some other container system. Rain Gutter Watering system materials - 2 - 10' 2x4 PT lumber 1 - 8' 2x4 PT lumber - to make 6-8 7.5" pieces (or use 2x4 pieces lying around in your garage) 1 - 8' 5/4x6 PT decking - again to make 6-8 4.5" pieces 1 - vinyl gutter few 1 1/2" screws to make the seats box of grk 2 1/2" long screws to attach the seats to the lumber 2 - end caps 1 - kerrick float valve pressure reducer, hose to irrigation tubing adapter, irrigation tubing ... I liked Luigiwu's idea of not piercing the gutter, so this system just lets the gutter sit on the wooden structure. This also helps towards my goal of ease of maintenance/repair Actual dimensions of 2x4 are 1.5" x 3.5" Actual dimensions of 5/4x6 decking are 1" x 5.5" The depth of the gutter I bought was 2.5" So gutter depth + decking board is just the right height for a 2x4 sitting on its edge. The gutter is 4.5" wide. So cut 6 pieces 4.5" long from the decking board Cut 6 pieces 7.5" long from the smaller 2x4. Then attach the 4.5" piece right in the middle of the 7.5" piece These 6 pieces (seats) are going to form the base for the watering structure. The 10' 2x4 is going to be attached to the 2x4 part of this piece while the gutter is going to sit on the decking part of this piece. The pictures should make it clearer pieces created and laid out. (I had 8' lumber, so I joined pieces to make 10' to match the gutter) The gutter is 10' ft long, but the end caps fit outside the gutter, so at the end, the gutter becomes wider than 4.5". So you need to trim the 10' lumber to match the length of the part of the gutter that is 4.5". I had to trim about 2" Now flip them and attach the seats to the 2x4 lumber. Use clamps when driving the screws. Drill pilot holes before driving the screws. Flip the structure, this is your base for holding the gutter Attach the end caps and put the gutter in. (photo without end caps, The end caps are a PITA to fit.) (did not take pictures after I fit the end caps and installed kerrick valve) That is your watering system. Containers coming up in the next post later ..