Important Roof Drainage Tips for Flat/Low-Slope Roofs

The roof drainage system of your home consists of different valleys, ridges and other components that make use of gravity to push the water runoff into the areas that catch and drain it away safely. Sloped roofs will simply rely on gravity to catch the water runoff, but as for flat or low-pitch roofs, they use a different kind of system. Expert roof repair contractor Quality One Roofing Inc shares their insight.

Calculating the Right Size

One of the first steps in getting a proper roof drain for your home is to calculate the surface area of the flat roof that the drains will be covering. Rainfall intensity will also be considered during this step, and can only be done by experienced roofing professionals. They’ll also determine which roof area will be served by a separate leader, which is either the scupper, drain pipe, or downspout. To do this, they’ll need to obtain additional information from the gutter manufacturer before determining how many drains will be needed.

An experienced roofing contractor will know how big the leader should be so that it can handle the volume of water to be drained. The roof drains will then be spaced equally at the lower points of the roof or in the areas where the water runoff accumulates. 

Choosing the Right System

Flat roofs are still sloped, although this is hardly noticeable. This still means you’ll need to build a more efficient roof drainage system. Conventional gutter systems may be unsuitable for these types of roofs, so make sure that scupper drains are installed instead. Scuppers also have a parapet or a similar type of perimeter barrier enclosing the roof. They’re made to catch the water runoff and drain them into a connecting downspout.

As one of the best roofing restoration contractors in the area, you can count on Quality One Roofing Inc to get the job done right! Call us today at (610) 489-3057 if you’re in Malvern, (215) 493-4550 if you’re in Newtown, (609) 921-8868 if you’re in Princeton, or (302) 656-1618 if you’re in New Castle. You can also contact us online via our convenient request form.