Your roof is the first line of defense to protect your home against whatever mother nature throws at it – snow, rain or even hail. Unfortunately, this water doesn’t sit on your roof, it needs to go somewhere. That’s where the roof drainage system comes in. Let’s look at what it is, the makeup and what you can do to make sure yours is correct.

What is Roof Drainage?

It consists of different roof parts designed to direct water, debris and any other type of precipitation off of the roof and into appropriate areas.

What Makes Up the Roof Drainage System?

The drainage system starts with the design of the home. A roof contains different ridges, valleys and other areas that use gravity to direct water. In a sloped home, these components usually rely on gravity to move the water. On a flat roof, a system of drainage pipes, scuppers, and other components are used.

On top of the roof structure, there are many components that work with the drainage system. Flashing, gutters and downspouts direct the water into appropriate areas instead of having water and debris drain off all over your property or driveway.

The gutter and downspout system is not just bolted onto the roof system. It is actually engineered in a way that moves the water and debris off of your roof with efficiency. This prevents gutters from getting backed up with material and allows them to move large amounts of water efficiently.

What If My Roof Drainage is Poor?

If you are regularly dealing with backed up or standing water you may need to have your drainage system checked up on. Get a certified roofing contractor out to your home so they can make recommendations to give you the best roof drainage possible.