Flat Roof Drainage System

Flat Roof Drainage System

If you allow rainwater to settle in place on any flat roof, it can cause a range of problems to the building’s structural integrity. Thanks to a dedicated flat roof drainage system, you’ll be able to remove this risk and ensure all rainwater is forced away from your property and into your drains. This problem has been around for thousands of years; however, so many contractors and construction ‘experts’ still get it wrong.

Here at Drainage Care, we can deliver a variety of drainage systems for flat roofs. Over the years, our experienced team have worked to help all kinds of properties eliminate drainage issues. We can prevent water from collecting on flat roofed buildings and repair any kind of damaged drains which could lead to long-term structural damage.

How Does a Flat Roof Drainage System Work?

Simply put, flat roof drainage systems work to move water, including rainwater and melted snow, to the point where it can be removed from the surface. Encouraging the water to find its way towards a drainage point is the main part of the system. This can be difficult to do on flat roofs, as gravity doesn’t work to move the water like it does on angled rooftops.

By forcing the water to move towards drainage points on the roof, you will be able to clear rainwater extremely quickly, preventing it from doing any damage to your home or business’ structural integrity. It is extremely important that rainfall on these kinds of rooftops is managed. Otherwise, the water itself could place a great deal of pressure on the property and allow water to enter the structure.

What to Consider when Installing Flat Roof Drainage Systems?

There are two main features of any drainage system for flat roofs that you need to consider. As any experienced drainage specialists will tell you, the success or failure of flat roof drainage system relied upon:

1. The Rooftop Design – It is essential that your property’s flat roof is designed to deliver adequate falls in the water. This will encourage the water to move towards designated low points. There are many ways of achieving this, from adding a slight slant to the entire roof, or constructing directional gutters within the rooftop surface to direct the water.
2. Drainage Points – At the designated low points, you need to ensure that you have somewhere for the water to go. You need to include a range of correctly sized outlets to collect and discharge all these surface waters. These drainage pipes can be constructed with a range of different features, including:
   • Gutters.
   • Water Spouts.
   • Rooftop Outlets.
   • Overflow Drains.
     

Each of these drainage points allow water and melted snow to flow freely away from your rooftop. Some will feed directly into a drainpipe to send water away from your property, whereas others will simply dispose of the water onto the ground. In some cases, you’ll need to include a high-capacity drainage point where the water impacts the floor. Otherwise, you could be left with standing water elsewhere in your property, which can cause damage to foundations and more.