Rainwater Terrace 1 Tier Double User manual

INSTRUCTIONS –1-TIER DOUBLE
Please read these before you start
How your Rainwater Terrace® works
When it rains the optional Rainwater Diverter (1) collects water from the downpipe and
starts to fill both of the containers (2) through the inlet tube (3). The level of water is
visible in the Drain-tube (4)
When they are full the water will overflow down the central tube (5), into the top of
the plinth and back to the drain through the Outlet Tube(10).
Every time it rains sufficiently water flows through the whole system so minimising
stagnant water.
Water can be drained from the containers through the Drain-tube. This has a built-in
tap that allows very rapid filling of watering cans or buckets.
The top planter (7) and side planters (8) are provided with special Capillary mats that
draw up water from the planter trays (6) and feed your plants from the bottom.
Because you only have one layer of containers the planter trays must be topped up
manually through one of the spare side planter receptacles.
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2
3 4
5
6
7 8
The only tools you will need are for fixing the wall brackets 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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2

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Location And Preparation Of Site
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 the
6mm holes for the wall plugs and screw the
bracket securely in place. (see Page 8)
4cm
71cm
4cm
2
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 150 kg Check your
intended site with a spirit level in both directions. (Note that most paving has a
slight slope to encourage surface water to run away from your house.)
The plinths should contact the ground all round their 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 two 60x60cm paving slabs so that they can be set at
exactly the same level.
Any cement used to fix and level them should be
allowed to set completely before installing your
Rainwater Terrace®.
Must be level

Assembly
3. Place the first container on
the Plinth (it will only fit one
way) and assemble the inlet
tube (the one without the
tap) on the same side as the
Outlet Tube as shown.
Turning the Retainer ring in a
clockwise direction will pull
the sealing ring into place.
Make sure you stop the inlet
tube rotating from the
outside.
1. Lay the Plinth on its back as
shown, assemble the Outlet Tube
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 Drainpipe.
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.
Inlet Tube
RETAINER
RINGS
Connector
Tube
3
Container
4. Assemble the connector tube to the
other side of the container using
another retainer ring in the same way.
RETAINER
RINGS
Outlet
Tube
Plinth

INLET TUBE
(no tap) 4
5. Position the second plinth next to the first.
6. Fit the second container on top and connect the other end of the connector tube to it
using another retainer ring.
Drain
tube
8. Fit the blanking
cap onto the central
cone on the
container furthest
from the drain as
shown.
7. Fit the Drain-tube using another retainer ring as
before and hook the other end into its holster on t
9. Fit the planter trays on top.
Planter
trays

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 cone that feeds the water back to the drain.
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 simplest 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 container which is easy to clean
out.
2. There are Diverters that prevent larger debris such as
leaves from blocking the inlet pipe, diverting it down the
drainpipe instead.
3. 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.
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

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. You can use a large cable tie to
attach the outlet tube to the bottom of the drainpipe
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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.
TONGUE
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You can use your planters
in the greenhouse and
pop them on when you
are ready to plant out.
Note that the top planter tray
may not be replenished when it
rains so you will have to water
this manually.
TOP PLANTER
SIDE
PLANTER

A Design 4 Plastics Ltd Product
402, Birch Park, Thorp Arch Estate,
Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7FG, UK
Tel: [phone]
www.rainwater-terrace.com
Email: [e-mail]
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We also provide plastic
fixings to make the lid
even more secure
YOU CAN FIT A
PADLOCK THROUGH
HERE FOR EXTRA
SECURITY
Security Kit