Support for Rain Barrel

We recently picked up a rain barrel from our city to collect some rain water. It will be used for watering (no drinking).

To increase the flow from the rain barrel, I wanted to raise it off the ground. We had some leftover concerete cylinder blocks that I thought I could use.

Here is where the rain barrel is going to go (against our large shed which will be used to feed the rain barrel (10x16' shed).



And below are images of the concrete cylinders. The plan is to put them upright, which will give me about a 1' height.






The cylinders are almost all the same height (some maybe vary about 1/16-1/8" in height). My plan is to put the shorter ones in the middle and all the ones with the same height around the outside.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend anything else once I put them in place next to the shed? It looks like the rain barrel has two sections that straps can be put on, so I was thinking I might affix a rubber strap against the shed and on the outside of the rain barrel just to prevent it from falling (although I doubt with the weight of water in it that it would. I also potentially thought about getting some cement/grout and filling in the outside edges of the cylinders to make it look... pretty :P

Any options would be great, thank you!

 

I think your plan is pretty much foolproof. We did something similar last year just using one of those 45 gallon blue barrels. I had a chuck of brick chimney that was nice and level on top. Once that barrel is 1/3 full, it's not going anywhere.

We put ours under the downspout on the largest roof section on the house. Even a small amount of rain filled it in no time. Make sure you put some sort of screen material over the top to keep shingle grit out.

Oh, and make sure you have a plan to address overflow. You don't want water just simply spilling over the top, thus negating the purpose of your gutters.

 

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In addition to securing the barrel itself.....I would add perhaps a strap around the concrete "blocks" midway up to stabilize the base and to ensure they don't creep over time or accidentally get knocked out of place. That barrel will weigh a few hundred pounds when filled. You can use an inexpensive 1" ratchet tie down strap.....but you will need to fasten the two ends of the strap to the shed at the width of the base otherwise it will try to create a circle when tightening.

Also.....if the shed has shingles on the roof I would not use the water on vegetables.


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Thanks for your input.

Water won't be used for any vegatables, just watering grass/garden (plants etc). Is there something specific in cedar that is bad?

Overflow is addressed, and there is already a screen on the top (although I've put another one as well since there are pine needles nearby.

I like the idea of the 1" rachet strap, probably will go that route.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

Sorry.....I should have been more specific.....I meant to say asphalt shingles.


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Great minds think alike, Halton; first thing I thought of as I scrolled down the thread was strapping the blocks together.

 

Ahh okay good. Yeah we have cedar shingles on the roof.