Midwest storms can be wild, so I’d be skeptical about any chain totally replacing a real gutter if you care about keeping your foundation dry.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen cup chains work decently well on smaller roof sections, especially where runoff isn’t crazy. They’re not a full gutter replacement for big roofs, but for porches or bump-outs, they can handle more than folks expect—if you size them right and have a good splash block or drain at the bottom. Still, you’re right about wind. Even the best cup chain will throw water sideways in a real storm. Just depends on how much risk you’re willing to take with the landscaping or foundation.
Cup chains definitely handle more than folks give them credit for, especially on those smaller porch roofs or bay windows. I’ve seen a few setups where they worked just fine until we hit one of those sideways Midwest downpours—then, yeah, water everywhere. The wind really is the wild card. If you’re set on using chains, just make sure you’re watching the grading around your house and maybe even think about adding an extra splash block or two. Sometimes it’s about picking your battles... aesthetics vs. peace of mind, you know?
I hear you on the wind being the real troublemaker. I went with cup chains last year because, well, they look cool and my wallet was already crying from the rest of the gutter work. They handled normal rain just fine, but when we got one of those sideways storms, it was like Niagara Falls off the porch. I ended up stacking a couple of splash blocks and some leftover bricks to keep the mulch from floating away. Honestly, if you’re not in a wind tunnel, cup chains are decent... but if you’re in tornado alley like me, maybe keep a mop handy.
That’s interesting—did you ever try link style chains, or just stick with the cups? I keep hearing mixed things about how much wind actually messes with the links. Wondering if they’d be any better in those sideways storms, or just as messy.
- Tried both, and honestly, link style looked cool but didn’t hold up in gusty weather for me.
- Cups seem heavier, so they stay put better when the wind picks up. The links would swing around and splash water everywhere—looked messy, plus the siding got muddy.
- I’m in the Midwest, so we get those sideways storms a lot. The links didn’t really control the water much... it just blew out of the chain and missed the basin half the time.
- Cups cost a bit more upfront, but I didn’t have to clean up or fix anything after storms, so maybe it evens out?
- Found the links were a pain to untangle too. Not sure if that’s just me being clumsy or what.
- If you’re on a tight budget and don’t get strong winds, links might be fine. But for stormy spots, I’d stick with cups—less hassle in the long run.