How your Rainwater Terrace®
works
When it rains the Rainwater Diverter (1)
collects water from the downpipe and starts to
fill the Top Planter Tray (2), watering plants
attached to it. When full it overflows into the
top container (3). The level of water collected is
visible in the Drain-tube (4). Once the container
is full water overflows down the central tube
(5) and onto the next Planter Tray (6) that
supports the side Planters (7).
When this Planter Tray is full it overflows into
the bottom container (8) and when that is full
any excess is collected by the plinth (9) and
returned back to the drain through the Outlet
Tube(10).
Every time it rains sufficiently water flows
through the whole system replacing old water
with new so minimising stagnant water.
Water can be drained from each container
independently through its own Drain-tube.
These each have a built-in tap that allows very
rapid filling of watering cans or buckets.
The top and side planters are provided with
special Capillary mats that draw up water from
the planter trays and feed your plants from the
bottom.
INSTRUCTIONS – 2-TIER (V2)
Please read these before you start
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2
3
4
5
6
7
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9
10
IMPORTANT NOTE: NEVER BUILD A RAINWATER TERRACE®
MORE THAN 3 CONTAINERS HIGH
The only tools you will need are for fixing the wall bracket to your wall and
fitting the Diverter kit and drain outlet tube. See instructions later.
There is also a YouTube video you can watch :-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZQECf2Dcms&feature=youtu.be
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Location And Preparation Of Site
Your Rainwater Terrace® should be
positioned close to a downpipe from your
roof gutter so that excess water can be fed
back into the drain easily. It can be
positioned either side of the downpipe.
Your Rainwater Diverter should be fitted
last so that the correct height of installation
is achieved.
When full your Rainwater Terrace® is very
heavy so it is very important that it stands
on a firm, flat, level surface that can
withstand at least 220 kg Check your
intended site with a spirit level in both
directions. Most paving has a slight slope
to encourage surface water to run away
from your house.
The plinth should contact the ground all round its
base so cobbles and uneven paving are not
suitable. Never install directly onto soil or any
surface that will sink under pressure.
If in doubt we recommend installing a concrete
base or a 60x60cm paving slab so that it can be set
level. Any cement used to fix and level it should be
allowed to set completely before installing your
Rainwater Terrace®.
Your Rainwater Terrace® is very stable but we do
recommend that you use the steel Wall bracket
provided for added security. Mark a vertical line on
your wall at the centre point of your base and
mark out the 2 screw positions as shown. Drill
6mm holes for the wall plugs and screw the
bracket securely in place.
If 2 or more Terraces are to be connected
together they must all be on the same level. If
your site does not permit this they must each be
connected to the downpipe independently.
4cm
115cm
4cm
2
Holster
Assembly
3. Place the first container on the
Plinth (it will only fit one way).
Choose which side you want your
Drain-tubes and, making sure the
tap is closed, hook one onto its
holster at the top of the container.
Insert the other end into the hole
in the container and fit the
Retaining Ring on the inside as
shown.
Turning the Retainer ring in a
clockwise direction will pull the
sealing ring into place. Make sure
you stop the Drain-tube rotating
from the outside.
1. Lay the Plinth on its back as
shown, assemble the Outlet Tube
(12) to the spigot on the
underside of the Plinth as far as it
will go and feed the other end
through the hole nearest to your
Downpipe. (You can soften the
end of the pipe in warm water to
make it easier to fit)
2. Position the Plinth on the flat
base about 2cm from the wall.
The outlet tube can be cut to
length later when you are ready
to connect to the Drain.
4. Fit a Bung in the other hole using
another Retaining ring as described
above.
BUNG
RETAINER
RINGS
Drain-tube
3
5. Assemble the first Planter Tray
(the one without the inlet panel) –
it will only fit one way round.
Place the second container on top
making sure the wall bracket fits
through the slot at the back. If
necessary reposition the plinth so
that all the modules fit together
properly at the same time.
Fit the second Drain-tube and a
second Bung as before using the
Retainer Rings (they can be either
way round)
6. At this point you can check that
the Bungs and tubes are properly
sealed by removing the top module
and pouring a bucket of water into
the bottom container. Repeat for
the other container.
Finally fit the top planter tray .
YOU CAN FIT A
PADLOCK THROUGH
HERE FOR EXTRA
SECURITY
BUNG
We also provide plastic
fixings to make the lid
even more secure.
Simply insert from the
top and push in the peg.
These can be removed
later by pushing the peg
up from underneath
4
Connection To A Rainwater Diverter
For your Rainwater Terrace® to work the outlet from your rainwater diverter must be
higher than the top rim of your top container otherwise water cannot overflow down
the central tube (5) that feeds the lower containers.
THIS WILL
NOT WORK
We suggest a
minimum of 10cm
There are many different Diverter kits you can use, which will depend on your
particular drainage requirements.
1. The Diverter we supply is suitable for standard 65mm square or 68mm round plastic downpipes and will divert a large proportion of the rain falling through your Downpipe into your
Rainwater Terrace® including any debris from your gutter. This will collect mainly in the top
Planter Tray which is easy to clean out.
2. If you have problems with bunged up soak-aways there are Diverters such as the “Gutter
Mate” that collect the debris in a filter that must be emptied regularly. This is also useful if you
have larger Down-pipes.
Follow the installation instructions that come with the Diverter kit with regard to
cutting into your Downpipe but always bear in mind the instructions above.
Avoid looping the pipe
5
Use the smaller diameter pipe
to connect it to the rainwater
inlet panel that is fitted to the
top planter tray.
See the separate instructions for
fitting your Diverter to the Down-pipe
Tip- You can soften
the ends of the inlet
pipe in warm water
to make it easier to
fit.
Top Planter
Tray
To fit directly into your down-pipe
Drill a hole 35mm diameter with
a hole saw (not supplied).
Position as low as possible on
your down-pipe.
Then fit the rubber
grommet supplied.
Finally insert the free end of
your overflow tube. You can
chop this to length so that
about 3cm of pipe is inside the
down-pipe.
There are 3 basic types of
rainwater drain-away
1. Into a grate linked to a
drain or soak-away. Either
fit the rubber grommet supplied
as shown below or fit a plastic drain
cover and fit the outlet tube into that
2. Directly into a drain or soak-away. You
must use the rubber grommet supplied as
shown below.
3. Directly onto your land. Use the large cable tie
supplied to attach the outlet tube to the bottom of your
downpipe
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Connecting The Outlet Pipe To The Drain
The Planters
The Side Planters use the large mats. Fold
back the flaps either side of the central
tongue and feed it through the slot in the
bottom of your planter then flatten out the
mat as shown.
Add some compost to hold it in place and then
plant your plants, filling in with compost as
you go.
Fit your creation into the mounting slots in the
planter trays on your Rainwater Terrace ®
making sure the tongue dips into the water.
If the planter tray is still dry you can top it up
through any of the vacant mounting slots.
The planter trays are replenished only when it
rains so check the level of water regularly.
The Top Planter uses the 4 small
mats that are fed through the
slots from the top.
TONGUE
Now for the creative bit! Your Rainwater Terrace® is supplied with side planters and a top
planter and pre-cut capillary mats for each that draw up water from the planter trays.
Press down firmly both sides so that
the back edge clips under this lip
TONGUE
You can use your planters
in the greenhouse and
pop them on when you
are ready.
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Connecting 2 Or More Terraces Together
A Design 4 Plastics Ltd Product
402, Birch Park, Thorp Arch Estate,
Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7FG, UK
Tel: 01937 845176
www.rainwater-terrace.com
Email: rainwater-terrace@design4plastics.com
To join 2 towers together you will need the
connector kit that comprises 2 connector tubes
and 1 blanking cap.
Fit the connector tubes using the Retainer rings
from the Rainwater Terrace® kits.
You only need one drain-tube for each level.
Fit the blanking cap onto the
central cone on the bottom
container furthest from the
drain as shown.
Both towers must be at the same level to
operate properly otherwise all the planter
trays may not be replenished when it rains.
Connector Tubes x2
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