Scupper Problems Flat Roof Damage

It is important to make sure that a roof is properly drained.

Scupper problems flat roof damage.

Most residential roofs are sloped to the edge and a gutter system catches the water. For clarity flat roofs actually have a slight slope to allow rain water to drain off the roof but they seem flat when compared with more traditional steeply sloped roofs. Any damaged components of the drainage system must be repaired quickly and correctly to ensure they continue to function as designed. Scuppers reinforce the roofing and prevent excess water from accumulating on the roof which can lead to significant water damage.

The slope should be a minimum of 1 in 80 but in practice a minimum slope of 1 to 40 should be used to allow for deflection of the roof and for normal building tolerances. If water ponds on a flat roof it could lead to problems later on. Of course the best designed flat roof has the correct amount of pitch to drain the water off naturally. When clearing debris from around a drain or scupper don t just clear enough to get the water flowing.

The entire roof should be cleared to prevent the drain from becoming clogged again. Just like any roof a flat roof will develop leaks but since it s flat the water doesn t have anywhere to go but straight down. There are roof coating products available if there isn t enough slant or slope to accomplish this. If your commercial building has a flat roof sometimes there is a problem with ponding water.

Leaks and moisture probably the most common problems with flat roofs leaks and lingering moisture are issues that can be dealt with effectively as long as you stay on top of them. Water leaking through the roof could also cause fire and electric hazards. When combined with a complete drainage system the water accumulated is redirected preventing damage to the roof and structure. This is because the flat roof can hinder drainage from rainwater which results in standing water on the roof.

A major maintenance issue shared between all types of roof drains is debris removal. The strainer or filter in the images was placed in the neck of the leader header causing to clog fast with a small amount of debris. These problems could cause the roof to leak and severely damage the roof deck underlying structure and interior finishing. The biggest problem with flat roofs is standing water.

Regular cleaning and unblocking of the drains gutters and scuppers is mandatory. This is especially prevalent after a lot of rainstorms. Each of these systems has its own pros and cons. Long term effects of ponding water on a flat roof.

The extension on the leader header added to more problems. There are three types of drain systems commonly used on flat roofs. Strainer in leader header causing a blockage forcing water onto the flat roof through the scupper.