Drainage is always the weak link. I’ve replaced more rotten decking from clogged scuppers than from actual leaks.
I get the drainage concern, but I’m not convinced internal drains are always the answer. My neighbor put in one of those retrofit kits with the overflow, and it’s been a mixed bag—less ponding, sure, but he’s had to snake it out twice in two years. Makes me wonder if just keeping the scuppers clear and adding a slight slope with tapered insulation might be less hassle in the long run. Anyone else find internal drains more trouble than they’re worth?
I’ve looked into internal drains too, but I keep circling back to maintenance headaches. My place is in a spot with a lot of trees, so I’m already fighting leaves in the gutters every fall. If an internal drain clogs and you don’t catch it right away, seems like you could end up with water backing up where you really don’t want it. Has anyone tried those external scupper boxes with built-in screens? Wondering if that’s less hassle than dealing with hidden pipes inside the roof assembly.
I’ve got a flat roof too, and honestly, the internal drains give me the creeps for exactly that reason—one clog and you’re looking at a nightmare, especially with all the leaves we get around here. I tried scupper boxes with screens a couple years back. They’re easier to check and clear, but screens still get jammed up fast in the fall. At least you can see the problem before it turns into a pond on your roof. Not perfect, but I’d take that over hidden pipes any day.
Yeah, the idea of water backing up inside the house freaks me out too. I can at least see when my scupper screens get clogged, but it’s still a pain, especially after a windy night. Has anyone tried those bigger leaf guards or is that just asking for more hassle?
I hear you on the scupper screens—mine get jammed with pine needles every time the wind picks up. I tried those bigger leaf guards once, thinking they'd cut down on maintenance, but honestly, they just trapped more debris and made it harder to clean out the finer stuff. Plus, if they’re not fitted right, water can still back up around the edges. I’d rather spend a few minutes after a storm clearing the screens than risk a slow overflow I can’t see. Flat roofs are just a different beast... seems like no matter what, you’ve got to keep an eye on them.
