Recycle your old gutters into storage trays for old screws and nails.
Gutters contain rain from roofs and streets and direct it away either to the ground or storm drains. Gutters traditionally were intended to eliminate the buildup of moisture that could ultimately deteriorate a building structure or roadway when left to sit for long periods. They also were meant to prevent large amounts of water from flowing aimlessly down the sides of a building or road. However, new uses have been invented for recycling and rethinking the function of gutters beyond their original intention. Does this Spark an idea?
Cable Storage Unit
Ordinary vinyl rain gutters -- the kind you would find on a home -- create an ideal cable management system to contain multiple cable cords at your work station. Gutters can be cut to the right dimensions with a hand saw to store cable cords neatly inside. In addition, gutters can be affixed to suspend just below the workspace with hangers and fasteners. Drill a hole in the hangers to fasten the hooks and affix to the gutter. Drill a few holes in the bottom of your workspace to insert lag screws. Affix the screws to threaded hooks with joiner nuts, and hang the rain gutters. Gutters provide a cost-effective solution to rid your workspace of cable clutter.
Flowerbed
Repurpose old vinyl rain gutters from your home and turn them into vertical gardens. Affix old gutters to a wall or fence in a long row or rows. Place soil and plants inside. The gutters contain your plants and keep them up off the cold ground and away from hungry wildlife, states Eco Street. The system is useful for home gardeners short on ground space for traditional gardens yet who want the pleasure and joy of maintaining an outdoor garden.
Art
While most people probably would not view gutters as an element used for constructing a work of art, those with a creative visual eye see rain gutters as something more than a system for removing rain from city streets. Artists wanting to add color to otherwise grey sidewalks and gutters have sought to transform urban streets in Sao Paulo, Brazil by modifying rain gutters to look like animals and people. For example, one storm gutter was painted to look like a zebra; another was painted as a bat and even a man smoking a cigarette was painted on a gutter.
Tags: rain gutters, cable cords, look like, rain from, vinyl rain, vinyl rain gutters, your workspace