Posted by Dave Bull at 1:11 PM, April 29, 2014
Don't know how many of you remember the background here, but perhaps a look at this post from a few years back will remind you ...
Here's a snapshot of the balcony back then, after the 'haircut' operation to cut back the wisteria:
That's where it sat for a couple of years - with no gutter along that eave the rain has been free to pour straight down over the edge of the balcony, and I've recently been getting leaks in the kitchen, directly below. So with the rainy season now fast approaching, yesterday I finally decided to get this problem taken care of. I headed over to a builder's supply place across the river, and brought back (on my shoulder!) some new guttering and an assortment of parts and connectors.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
I also picked up something else at the supply shop - a strong safety belt with a giant metal clip, the stuff that linemen wear when they are up the poles. I strapped myself into this, and kept it clipped to the strongest part of the balcony structure while I worked up there.
But even with that safety line hooked up securely, it was still pretty scary standing on the edge of that balcony fitting the gutter into place, with around a 10+ metre drop to the river below me. Even though your 'head' might know you are safe, your 'body' doesn't believe it ...
I have no photos of me up there doing this (unfortunately?), as because we're now in the Golden Week holiday season, there was nobody else here all day.
But anyway, it's finally done ... bring on the rain!