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.
Yeah, I learned this the hard way last fall. First big rain after we moved in, I figured the scuppers were fine—no obvious leaves on top. Turns out, it was all packed underneath and water started pooling up. Ended up on the roof in my socks at midnight with a broom. Not my finest hour, but at least I caught it before it leaked inside. Guess it’s just part of the deal with flat roofs—constant vigilance. Those fancy guards just seem to make the mess sneakier, if anything.
Had a similar situation a couple years back—client called after a storm, water just sitting up there. The screens looked clear from above, but the downspout elbow was jammed with old roofing granules and some bird nest debris. What’s worked for me is running a hose through the scuppers every few months, not just after storms. Those guards can help, but they’re not foolproof... sometimes they just hide the problem deeper. Flat roofs really do need that extra bit of attention, especially if you’ve got trees nearby.
Those guards can help, but they’re not foolproof... sometimes they just hide the problem deeper.
I hear you on that. I’ve pulled more than a few “mystery clogs” out of spots I thought were protected. Ever tried those foam inserts for scuppers? I thought they’d be a game-changer, but after one season, they basically turned into a moss farm. Anyone else have luck with something that actually keeps the junk out but doesn’t just shift the headache downstream? Flat roofs keep me on my toes, especially when the maples start dropping seeds everywhere...
I get the frustration with those foam inserts. Tried them myself a couple years back—looked promising at first, but by mid-summer they were basically a soggy science experiment. I actually think sometimes all these guards and filters just create new places for gunk to pile up, especially if you’re not up there checking every few weeks.
Honestly, I’ve had better luck just sticking with regular old maintenance. It’s not glamorous, but getting up there after a big storm or when the trees start dropping stuff seems to beat any gadget I’ve tried. I know some folks swear by those metal mesh screens, but in my experience, they just let the smaller stuff through and then you’re dealing with sludge instead of leaves.
Flat roofs are always going to be a bit of a pain, especially if you’ve got trees nearby. Sometimes I wonder if all these “solutions” are just ways to avoid the fact that nothing really replaces getting your hands dirty now and then...
Had the same experience with those foam inserts—thought they’d save me some work, but they just turned into a mess. I’ve tried the metal mesh too, and you’re right, it just lets all the small stuff through and then you’re scraping out sludge instead of leaves. My place is surrounded by maples, so skipping regular checks isn’t an option. Honestly, nothing beats just getting up there after a storm and clearing things out by hand. It’s a pain, but at least you know it’s done right. All those “set it and forget it” products just haven’t worked for me.
