4 Great Reasons to Add a Scupper to Your Flat or Low-Pitched Roof

If you have a roof that is either flat or very slightly pitched, you'll find that water is able to collect on your roof more easily. That can be a real problem, as the water ponding creates a large amount of weight, which can often lead to leaking and the need for repairs.

You should already have a guttering system for your roof, but you might also want to consider calling up a roof plumbing professional to have scuppers installed. These are simply an outlet that is cut into the wall of a raised roof edge, usually with a metal or plastic pan extending outwards. Here are just four reasons why scuppers are perfect for flat or low-pitched roofs.

1. Handles Heavy Rainfall

Flat and low-pitched roofs typically have a harder time dealing with heavy rainfall than roofs that are steeply sloped. Instead of relying on the pitch to remove water, such roofs need to rely almost entirely on their guttering systems, and guttering systems won't always drain fast enough to keep up. This can lead to water ponding on top of the roof. Scuppers are much wider, so they can handle increased rainfall without becoming backed up.

2. Hard to Clog

A flatter roof will hold leaves and other debris more easily than steeper roofs. When rainwater does come, those leaves can be drained into the gutters, quickly clogging them up. The wide opening of a scupper makes them a lot harder to block, especially since they will usually be open from above. This is also advantageous in the winter, when any slow-moving water could turn to ice and jam up your gutters.

3. Easy to Maintain

In the extremely unlikely event of a roof scupper getting clogged, it won't be clogged for long. All you need to do is climb up a ladder and remove the build-up that is causing the problem. There are no pipes to deal with, so you won't need to replace anything or determine which part of the system is clogged or in need of repair.

4. Inexpensive

Finally, keep in mind that scuppers are very inexpensive to fit. Instead of investing lots of money in a new guttering system or risking the problems that can occur thanks to inadequate drainage, you'll spend just a little bit of money on a long-term solution. Heavy rainfall might be infrequent, or you might clean your roof every day of the year, but it's always worth spending a little bit of money for the added peace of mind that comes with roof scuppers.