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. To avoid such issues and increase the life of your commercial building, it is advisable for commercial building owners to consult their commercial roofing contractors for the appropriate flat roof drainage system. There are three types of flat roof drainage systems available in the market. This blog post looks closely at all three to help you discover the best drainage system for your property.

1. Internal Drains

Internal drains constitute a common drainage system is most commercial buildings. 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.

2. Scuppers

A scupper is an opening in the sides of the walls that allows excess water to drain from flat rooftops of commercial buildings. 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.

3. Gutters

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.

Way Forward

These are the three different drain systems you can use in commercial buildings to avoid water pooling and its repercussions. Each draining system has its own pros and cons that you ought to discuss with your commercial roofing company. The suitability of any type for your building depends on your roofing system, surroundings, and various other factors. It is, therefore, essential to assign such jobs to a reputable commercial roofing contractors such as Triumph Roofing and Construction. We are a leading commercial roofer in Dallas, Texas, with extensive experience in new roof installation, maintenance, and repairs. To discuss your requirements, fill out our contact form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call us at 972-332-1766.