Roofs are exposed to the adverse effects of weather conditions all year round. Their effective drainage is one of the factors that helps preserve their integrity and trouble-free functioning for a long period of time. The lack of a good drainage system can lead to a number of adverse effects such as moisture on the facade of the building, deterioration of the thermal insulation characteristics of the materials and the operational properties of the roof, etc.
Solving such problems usually comes down to building a good roof drainage system, which, in addition to its purely practical functions, can also perform aesthetic ones, giving the building an individual look.
Usually, a drainage system is understood as a system of facilities that support the organized drainage of rainwater or snowmelt from the roof surface to the general drainage system. The presence of such a system allows to avoid water from falling on the facade and into the interior of the facade structure; to prevent possible roof leaks in the event of a large amount of water collecting and flooding of basements and attics, etc.
DON'T NEGLECT THE GUTTERS AND PIPES!
Gutters and downspouts may not be the most fundamental purchases for a house, but if chosen carefully and installed correctly, they save the beautiful facade from ruin, and the underground floors and basements from flooding. If installed incorrectly, on the other hand, gutters and downspouts will contribute to the cyclical flooding of the walls and therefore to all the problems that arise from this.
What we look for as a combination when purchasing gutters, pipes, and fittings is that they are practical and protect the walls from running water, while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing to further emphasize the architectural features of the buildings.
Downspouts and gutters are one of the most often overlooked topics in construction. Most of us neglect them until the facade is almost destroyed by water. And when the time comes to replace the gutters or buy new ones, most of us wonder how to choose the most suitable gutters for the type of roof.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTERS AND DRAIN PIPES?
In order to choose the most appropriate solution for roof drainage of a given building, several main factors must be taken into account - the type of roof structure, the area of the roof, the type of roofing material and its compatibility with the selected gutters and downpipes, and of course, the volume of expected rainfall. When designing the drainage system, the optimal location of the water intakes must be sought, which achieves the desired drainage rate.
Safety requirements should not be underestimated, as well as those for roof loading depending on the load-bearing capacity of the structure.
The classic definition of external roof drainage systems includes those in which water is directed through the roof slopes to gutters and downspouts located along the contour of the building and from there is drained into the ground or into a collection shaft.
TYPES OF DRAINAGE
Drainage for different types of roofs is implemented in three main options:
- Drainage with suspended (hanging) gutters - the gutters rest on brackets that are attached to the roof structure. This is the most commonly used option for solving the problem. It is widely used by owners of houses, villas, etc.;
- Drainage with lying gutters - the gutters lie on pre-built beds. They are not visible and the entire structure looks like an extension of the eaves of the house. In this variant, the gutters may not be made of solid material - metal or PVC, but may be made as a lining of bitumen or other impermeable material on the already prepared bed. This variant is most often used in public buildings with a larger area, as well as in buildings where a design effect is sought;
- Drainage without gutters - buildings with a flat roof and a sidewall do not need gutters. In them, water collection is carried out through waterproofing of the roof and the sidewall, as they form a closed vessel, and drainage is carried out by barbicans - (funnels), which direct the water from the roof into the gutter pipes. This option is not applicable for roofs with a greater slope and without a sidewall.
TYPES OF GUTTERS ACCORDING TO THE MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION
- Stainless steel: This material will add an almost eternal shine to your home's facade. It is considered to be almost indestructible, which is a big bonus considering its high price. Although quite expensive, stainless steel will pay for itself by saving you maintenance costs, frequent repairs and replacements.
- Cast iron: a very heavy and expensive material. Cast iron is resistant to cracking and resistant to wind and impact, but it is subject to corrosion, which means it needs regular painting with protective paint.
- Aluminum: costs less than cast iron and is significantly lighter, and is also available in a variety of coating colors. This allows the colors of the gutters to be matched to the facade, windows or doors. Easy to work with, due to its low weight, aluminum does not rust and is considered resistant to all weather conditions.
A disadvantage of aluminum gutters is that they can easily buckle under pressure – under the weight of tree branches, for example. There are two types of aluminum used to make gutters: recycled, which is slightly weaker, and virgin aluminum, which is much stronger.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): This is a cheap material, which is why it is so popular. It is easy to install and will ensure a long service life for your gutters. However, it is best to use high-quality PVC material, as some varieties are prone to rapid deterioration and discoloration when installed outdoors. PVC gutters are easy to install due to their low weight.
HOW ARE GUTTERS ATTACHED TO ROOF TILES?
In cases where gutters are used, no matter what type, the basic rule is that the end tiles of the roof structure should extend from 1/4 to 1/3 both in width and in depth of the gutter profile - this is done so that the water flow from the roof is stopped by the gutter face, and in the event of water lapping along the edge of the roof covering, the water falls back into the gutter.
Recently, over-gutter skirts have also been used, which are of small thickness and enter the gutter itself, preventing slipping as well as the passage of water over the gutter. Another practice with bitumen shingles is for the bitumen shingles themselves to enter the gutters to the point of contact.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ERRORS IN GUTTER INSTALLATION?
- Neglecting the expansion elements of the system. This leads to the disconnection of the elements of the system, and subsequently to leaks;
- Incorrect sizing of the number of places for connecting the downspouts to the gutters - leads to overflowing of the gutters;
- Incorrect installation in relation to the roof structure - water most often does not enter the gutter and it does not do its job in principle;
- Connecting different brands of drainage systems - it is not always possible to connect them so that there is no water leakage.
TIPS FOR PREVENTING GUTTERS
The main preventive measure is to clean the gutters and pipes in spring or autumn (before heavy rainfall) from dust, leaves or other dirt. The accumulation of dirt in the gutters or pipes leads to a decrease in the drainage capacity of the entire system, which can cause the gutters to overflow or the pipes to become clogged. Clogging, in turn, can lead to water retention in the pipe in winter, freezing and bursting.
A solution to the problem of rainwater freezing in winter exists, although it is still not sufficiently applicable in Bulgaria. It involves electric heating of gutters and downpipes, which prevents icing and the unpleasant consequences it leads to.
Another device for maintaining gutters are leaf grates, which are placed on the gutter. Although they prevent leaves from falling into the gutter and clogging it, if they are not cleaned regularly, unpleasant consequences can occur again. The accumulated leaves and debris on the grate form a layer that prevents the water from the roof from being led through the gutter to the gutter and it begins to overflow, causing damage to the facade.
HOW DO DRAINAGE SYSTEM PROBLEMS OCCUR?
The most common sign that gutters are not doing their job properly is the presence of crumbling or puffy plaster on the facade of the building. The collected water does not drain properly and finds another path to the walls of the building, soaking them with moisture and starting to destroy them little by little.
What are the causes of a problem with the roof drainage system?
There are several sources of the problem, most often associated with clogged gutters. They can most often contain remnants of building materials, plaster, broken tiles, dust, leaves and branches. This dirt accumulates and prevents water from passing through and draining away. It stagnates in the specific area and a thick sediment of rotting leaves and branches mixed with mud forms. This sediment repeatedly stimulates the corrosion of the gutters and holes form in them through which the water drains.
Another possible problem is the accumulated water, which freezes at low temperatures and puts great pressure on the gutter or downspout, literally clogging them, which directly requires their replacement.
It is not uncommon to see improper installation of roof drainage system elements. There are rules that must be strictly followed to ensure its smooth functioning.
These subtleties are known to professionals, and therefore we do not recommend that you try to replace gutters yourself. A certain slope must be observed when installing them. If you make a mistake, the water can even overflow in places and flow back down the facade of the building, destroying its plaster.
HOW TO PREPARE THE GUTTERS FOR WINTER?
Use a hose to pour water into the gutters at various points on the roof. Make sure that all the water runs down the slope to the downspout, rather than pooling in the middle of any of the gutter system segments. If you find that water is pooling in any of the pipes, increase the slope by slightly raising one end or lowering the one connected to the downspout.
Make sure that there is no debris in the gutters that could block or slow down the water flow to the downspout. If there is a blockage, you will need to clean the gutters to get the system working efficiently again.
Check for sand or other building materials from the roof that are clogging the gutters. If your roof is covered with asphalt or another type of asphalt-based roofing material, it can start to crumble and small pieces can flow down the shingles along with the rainwater, making it difficult for the roof drainage system to work.
While it is rare for sand or debris to accumulate enough to cause a blockage, it can slow down the flow of water and cause it to back up in the pipes.
Make sure the drainpipes are clear of leaves and debris. Do this by using the hose again, but this time increasing the jet all the way.
Pour directly into the drain pipe and observe – if the water at the end of the pipe comes out clean and without delay, then there is nothing to worry about. If the drainage is slow and dirt comes out with the water, continue pouring until clean water flows.
If this does not help, you will need to disassemble the drain pipe into individual segments and clean them.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you can find a wide variety of gutters and downpipes for your drainage system. The main differences are in the materials of manufacture /galvanized sheet metal and PVC/, the lengths, the dimensions of the U-shaped profile of the gutter, the diameter of the pipes, the coloring. Products made of colored galvanized sheet metal are of higher quality, which is mainly expressed in the greater resistance to corrosion. This is accordingly reflected in the price.
We also offer all the necessary elements for the structural implementation of the drainage system, which also have the relevant differences in order to be compatible. These are elbows, corners (external and internal), brackets, plugs, sleeves, cisterns (drainage and expansion), gutter skirts, safety grilles.
Regarding the sewer system, you can find end plates, corner element for channels, adapter for vertical discharge, chute, protective grate for large waste, street grates for channels, grate for floor strip siphon.
The elements for the drainage system made of galvanized sheet metal are from the KJG brand, and those made of PVC are from NICOLL. The products for the sewage system are from ASO. We also have anti-vacuum valves from HL.
Our prices are affordable and compete successfully with the market.
