5 Steps You Can Take to Improve Flat Roof Drain Systems

professional roofer

Flat roofs look great on more modern homes, and in warm weather, it’s a lot of fun to sit on the rooftop and watch the world go by. However, a flat roof doesn’t inherently provide all of the same advantages as a more traditional roof with pitch. Specifically, water drainage can be a real challenge on a flat roof. And while newer homes with flat roofs may have advanced drainage systems and all the right sloping to clear water off quickly, older homes with flat roofs often suffer from drainage issues.

If you’re the owner of a home with a flat roof, no matter how old it may be, you don’t want to ignore water drainage issues. If they’re not addressed promptly and remedied properly, these problems can mean damage to your roof and leaks in your home. Moisture can get in where it’s not supposed to be and can cause mold or small vegetation to grow. Plus, long term water drainage issues can cause serious structural problems in your home, all of which can be costly to repair.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What can you do to improve flat roof drain systems, in Toronto or anywhere else? Here are five steps you can take.

1. First, figure out why water isn’t draining properly. It could be that your drains are blocked or clogged, or there could be a sag or divot in the roof that prevents water from moving toward the drain. It’s possible that there aren’t enough drains for the amount of water that needs to be drained from the roof, or it might be that the roof was designed poorly from the start; perhaps it’s so flat that no drainage can take place, or maybe drains were installed haphazardly and not at the roof’s low points.

2. Make sure you have the right number of internal drains for the size of your roof. Because flat roofs have hardly any pitch, internal drains are necessary to remove large amounts of water after a rainy day or as snow is melting. If water is slow to drain from your roof, you may not have enough internal drains. You’ll want to consult a denver professional roofer to know for sure.

3. Check your gutters and downspouts. Of course, make sure they’re clean and clear so water can pass through easily, but you’ll also want to know that they’re large enough to get the water off your roof. This may be another question for a roofing professional.

4. You may find that you need to adjust the slope of your roof. There are products on the market that professional roofers can use to build up certain parts of the roof to guide water down to the gutters and drains. It’s a subtle change that can make a big difference in preventing water from pooling on your roof.

5. Or, you may need to lower your internal drains. If building up and changing the slope is too much work, perhaps due to many uneven spots, it may be easier to simply lower the drains so that water moves toward them instead of pooling on your roof. Again, a professional roofer can assess your drainage issues and make an informed recommendation to protect your roof and your home.

James Scott

James Scott was born in Missouri and studied at the University of Central Missouri. Currently working as Manager at ActoutLoud, James Scott helps readers learn the fields of Law, Marketing, Construction, Education, Health, etc hone their skills, and find their unique voice so they can stand out from the crowd.