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Roof Drains

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Roof Drainage: What You Need to Know

Get answers you all your questions about roof drains at Copperlab.

What is a roof drain?

A roof drain is installed on your roof to divert excess water, most commonly from rain. A roof drain assembly will typically include a drain grate to prevent debris from blocking the flow of outgoing water.

What are the types of roof drains?

There are several types of roof drains, including internal drains, gutters, and scuppers. Choosing the right type of drain for your roof depends on several factors, including the size and pitch of your roof, the desired style, and how much you want to invest into maintenance.

What is a scupper drain for roofs?

Scuppers, or roof scuppers, are used to provide an outlet for draining water through parapet walls or gravel stops, on flat roofs that would otherwise not be able to move water through a gutter. Scuppers are most commonly used on flat enclosed roofs, terraces, and parapets.

Do roof drains need to be insulated?

Roof drains provide a penetration in your roofing system that allows a connection to a plumbing pipe. The drain itself does not need any special insulation, however plumbing code in your jurisdiction may mandate insulation on plumbing waste water pipes.

How do you size roof drains?

In order to size your roof drain, you'll need to consider the type of roof and materials, the roof pitch, the estimated annual rainfall, the roof load, and any overflow requirements for state and local building codes.

How do you install roof drains?

Generally the drain flashing is nailed down to the subfloor or roof. And depending on the style of drain chosen the waterproofing layer is either torched, welded, or clamped to the drain flashing. Our roof drains can be installed on many types of roofs including: torch down, built-up, EPDM, TPO, & PVC. We do offer more specific instructions found on our our FAQ section.