Rainwater Terrace 3 Tier User manual

INSTRUCTIONS –3-TIER
Please read these before you start
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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
How your Rainwater Terrace® works
When it rains the optional Rainwater Diverter (1)
collects water from the downpipe and starts to fill
the top container (2) through the inlet tube (3).
The level of water is visible in the Drain-tube (4)
and when it is full the water will overflow down
the central tube (5) and onto a Planter Tray (6)
where it can be used by the Planters (7).
When that Planter Tray is full it overflows into the
next container (8) and when that is full water
overflows onto the next Planter Tray (9).
Eventually the bottom container (10) is filled and
any excess is collected by the plinth (11) and
returned back to the drain through the Outlet
Tube(12).
Every time it rains sufficiently water flows through
the whole system 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.
1

= =
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 the 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
159cm
4cm
2

Assembly
3. Place the first container on
the Plinth (it will only fit one
way) and assemble a bung 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 bung 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 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.
4. Take one of the Drain-tubes and,
making sure the tap is closed, hook it
onto its holster. Insert the other end
into the hole on the container and fix it
in place using a Retainer Ring as
described above.
BUNG
RETAINER
RING
Drain-tube
3

5. Assemble the first planter tray –it will only fit one way
round,. Place the second container on top and fit the second
bung and Drain-tube as before.
6. Assemble the second Planter Tray and position the last
container on top to check which side the Drain-tube fits. It
will be easier to take it off again to fit the Drain-tube. Also fit
the Inlet tube on the other side nearest your Downpipe then
lift into place.
Make 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.
7. At this point you can check that the Bungs and tubes are
properly sealed by removing the top 2 modules and pouring
a bucket of water into the bottom container. Repeat for the
other 2 containers and finally fit the top planter tray.
YOU CAN FIT A PADLOCK
THROUGH HERE FOR ADDED
SECURITY
INLET TUBE
(no tap)
We also provide
plastic fixings to
make the lid
even more
secure
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 cone
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 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 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
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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 30mm 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.
Note that the top planter tray
may not be replenished when it
rains so you will have to water
this manually. 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.
7

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: [phone]
www.rainwater-terrace.com
Email: [e-mail]
To join 2 towers together you will need the
connector kit that comprises 3 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 exactly the same
level to operate properly otherwise all the
planter trays may not be replenished when it
rains.
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