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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

FLAT ROOF DRAINAGE

Unlike sloped roofs, flat roofs cannot slide water down, which causes water to pool during rainy season.  Water pooling on the roof for long periods leads to various problems, such as roof leaks, plant growth, and further damage to the building’s structure.  There are three types of flat roof drainage systems available.  One of the challenges in designing a flat roof is planning for water drainage. Failure to do this will essentially defeat the purpose of the roof, as water ponding can cause serious damage to the structure.  Roof draining has been a part of modern architecture for as long as human beings have been living and working indoors.

1. Internal Drains

Internal drains constitute a common drainage system.  The drainage pipes are placed under the roof and in the walls of the building.  They are often positioned towards the center of the roof or the place where the slope of the roof allows water to collect.  Appropriate for large roofs, inner drains help in draining the water away from the building.  The internal drain system usually features a strainer to catch debris and avoid pipe blockages.

Inner drains are found many times on large building roofs.  Residential homes may also have this type of commercial roof installed.  The drains are usually placed near the center of the building.  They attach to pipes that drain the water down through the building’s roof.  This keeps the water safely away from the walls and foundation.

• Unlike gutter systems, inner drains will not freeze up and crack or fail during the winter.  The building and walls naturally protect the pipes from the elements.

• Inner drains are customizable as an attractive feature of your flat roof.  Increase your building’s curb appeal and beauty with custom fittings.

• Strainers for inner drains are best when custom-made to fit your roof and your particular climate.  They assist in keeping any debris from clogging the drain.

Inner drains do have some issues that need consideration before installation:

• Inner drains are the costliest of the three drain systems to install.

• Maintenance and repair of an inner drain system usually require a professional technician.  This leads to an even larger expense.

• Vigilance is necessary regarding debris on the flat roof with inner drains.  A small amount of debris can completely clog the system.  This can become a domino effect as water will have nowhere to go, creating standing pools of water.

• Be sure there is an adequate and appropriate number of drains for the size of your roof.  Not enough drains will cause a problem with water building up.

2. Scuppers

A scupper is an opening in the sides of the walls that allows excess water to drain from flat rooftops.  It carries excess water from the roof into the gutters or downspouts through conductor heads. Scuppers can be combined with gutters and downspouts to direct the water flow in the desired direction.  If you’re not using gutters or conductor heads to collect water, make sure that the scupper spouts extend past the exterior walls of the building so that the water does not wet the building.

To put it simply, scuppers are openings in the outer walls or curbs along the roof line.  They allow water to run through the wall via a metal box protecting and surrounding the scupper.  When designed and installed in the correct manner, scuppers are usually the best value.  They are the top choice for draining water from your flat roof efficiently.

• Low cost

• Easy to almost negligible maintenance required

• No clogging issues if scupper is large or wide enough

• No leaf or debris build-up, everything washes or blows off the roof

• Water shoots out away from the building instead of down the side

• Can add architectural appeal to roof line with custom scuppers

The only real negative with scuppers occurs when they hook up to a downspout or gutter.  Because of the clogging habits of both of these attachments, it is a better idea to leave them off of the system.

3. Gutters

Rain gutters are the most common drain system in use for all types of roofs.

• Inexpensive – gutters are the easiest types of drain systems to get and install

• Keeps water from pouring off of the roof in an uncontrollable manner

• Protects doorways and window openings

• Can keep water from pooling and building up near the building foundation

Although they do have their benefits, they also tend to be favored less due to several reasons:

• High maintenance – gutters need continual cleaning and upkeep all year long

• Gutter brackets can make them hard to clean – installing screens can reduce this problem

• Gutters may become brittle and crack. The brackets may also give way due to water or wet leaf weight

• Winter freezing – ice builds up causing a dam which leads to cracking

A gutter, also known as a conductor pipe, is a shallow trough that is placed beneath the edge of the roof to carry excess water away from the building.  To use gutters as a drainage system, there must be a slight gradient in your roof to direct excess water to gutters.  The maintenance and durability of gutters depend on the materials used.  The most common materials used to make gutters are aluminum, vinyl, and galvanized steel.  To ensure gutter works properly, they must be regularly cleared of debris.