Every year, St Louis receives roughly 42 inches of rainfall—enough free water to fill thousands of 55-gallon barrels per single-family roof. While that water usually courses through gutters and storm drains, smart homeowners are capturing it, cutting utility bills, and easing pressure on local storm-water systems. CountBricks makes the process seamless with instant AI estimates, real-time material pricing, and field-tested installation crews. This guide shows exactly how.
• Lower water bills during the region’s hot, humid summers when gardens demand the most irrigation
• Mitigate basement flooding by slowing roof-runoff during intense Midwest downpours
• Reduce strain on aging municipal infrastructure and help meet local green-building incentives
• Provide chemical-free, plant-approved water that keeps lawns and vegetable beds thriving
St Louis city and county currently allow residential rain barrels up to 100 gallons with no special permit, provided the system:
• Connects to an existing downspout with an overflow diverter
• Is screened to block mosquitoes and debris
• Does not discharge onto a neighbor’s property
CountBricks installers handle code compliance and produce drawings through our AI blueprint takeoff engine. If you live in a subdivision with an HOA, CountBricks can auto-generate submittal packets that satisfy architectural review boards—no homeowner paperwork required.
Rain collection is not one-size-fits-all. CountBricks technicians factor roof area, pitch, and average storm intensity directly from satellite imagery fed into CountBricks.com/services.
• 50–65 gallon recycled food-grade barrels: budget-friendly, ideal for patios
• 75–100 gallon polyethylene barrels: UV-stable, match mid-sized gardens
• 100–200 gallon linked cisterns: great for large lawns or micro-irrigation systems
• Architectural wooden barrels: premium look for historic Soulard or Lafayette Square homes
1. Voice Consultation—Talk to CountBricks AI from your smartphone. Describe roof corners, siding, and landscape goals.
2. Instant Takeoff—Our engine maps gutter lengths and downspout drops in seconds.
3. On-the-Spot Estimate—Materials, labor, and optional drip-hose kits populate automatically with real-time St Louis supplier pricing.
4. Schedule & Permit—Digital signatures lock your date; CountBricks pulls any required municipal approvals.
5. Site Prep—Crew levels the pad, installs a concrete or eco-block base, and cuts the downspout.
6. Barrel Hook-Up—We fit a debris screen, spigot, and overflow line directed at a safe grade.
7. Final Walkthrough—You receive maintenance pointers and a QR code linking to a personalized upkeep schedule inside the CountBricks homeowner portal.
• 55 gallon standard install: $285–$375
• 90 gallon decorative barrel with hardwood enclosure: $525–$700
• Dual 110 gallon cistern system with drip-irrigation: $1,200–$1,600
With St Louis water rates averaging $4.85 per 1,000 gallons, a single 90 gallon barrel that empties 20 times a season saves about $87 annually. Most homeowners see payback in 3–4 years, faster if paired with native landscaping rebates CountBricks submits on your behalf.
Traditional contractors ballpark materials and mark up surprises during the build. CountBricks eliminates guesswork:
• Live materials feed: Our app checks St Louis supplier inventories every ten minutes.
• Labor benchmarks: Crew hours align with regional productivity data collected from hundreds of CountBricks projects.
• Dynamic change orders: Want a second barrel mid-job? Your phone displays cost deltas before you say yes.
• Position barrels on the north or east side to reduce UV degradation
• Drain and rinse every spring to flush sediment and leaf tannins
• Add a mosquito dunk (Bti) monthly—safe for pets and plants
• Disconnect hoses before first freeze to prevent spigot cracks
• Inspect diverter valves after major storms to ensure correct overflow function
Does collected water work with pressure sprinklers? Gravity pressure tops out around 0.5 psi per foot of elevation. For sprinklers, CountBricks can integrate a 12-volt booster pump.
Will a barrel affect my home’s foundation? Not when installed by CountBricks. Overflow lines are routed at least three feet from walls and directed toward permeable ground.
How long does installation take? A single-barrel setup is usually complete in 2–3 hours; larger systems in half a day.
Ready to turn Midwestern rain into free irrigation? Start a voice chat now at CountBricks.com/consultation or browse our recent installations at CountBricks.com/portfolio. In under five minutes you’ll have a locked-in price, a scheduled crew, and the satisfaction of making your St Louis home a little greener.
Mrs. Romano’s century-old brick bungalow in The Hill had charm, but every heavy rain flooded her limestone patio and washed soil into the alley. She contacted CountBricks through our voice assistant while juggling groceries. In under seven minutes she had an itemized proposal for two linked 80-gallon rain barrels with a French-drain overflow.
• AI takeoff pinpointed the exact downspout location and calculated that a single summer storm could dump 600 gallons off her 1,150 sq ft roof.
• Material feed located food-grade barrels in nearby South City inventory, saving a week of lead time.
• The crew arrived with pre-cut diverter pipes and completed the job in three hours, finishing before Cardinals first pitch.
1. Storm-water runoff reduced by 160 gallons per event
2. Patio puddling eliminated, preventing mortar erosion
3. Herb garden watering now free for an estimated five months per year
“I talked, CountBricks listened, the barrels showed up—it was simpler than ordering pizza,” Mrs. Romano joked. “My basil and my basement both thank you.”
Whether your pain point is flooding, high water bills, or a sustainability goal, CountBricks pairs intelligent estimating with field-tested craftsmanship. Visit CountBricks.com/services to explore more water-management upgrades
