Roof drains: materials and installation

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Rain and meltwater draining from the roof can be called the enemy number 1 for the foundation of the house. Destructions caused by excessive moisture can be catastrophic - from year to year, penetrating the foundation and undergoing constant cycles of melting and freezing, water destroys not only the very basis of the house, but also undermines the soil under it. As a result, after a dozen years the house gives a drawdown and cracks appear on the walls. If you do not impede this process, then soon the building will fall into decay and collapse.

The solution to this problem looks quite simple - the roof gutters, in combination with the blind, divert the rainwater and thawed water away from the basement. This is exactly what will be discussed in this article, in which we will study in detail the drainage systems: the material used for their manufacture, and the principle of installation.

Installation of drainage system

Gutter system installation

Gutter material

Modern industry produces gutters from two types of material: plastic and thin sheet steel. The differences between them are significant - steel requires a special anti-corrosion and decorative coating, and plastic does not need such treatment. Hence the differences in their price - metal gutters are more expensive. This is not their only drawback. The protective coating of metal drainage systems is easily subjected to mechanical damage - as a result, the appearance of all kinds of scratches and dents leads to corrosion. If you do not perform timely processing of damaged areas, then these drains will not last long.

water drains

Metal gutters

As an additional protection for gutters made from thin sheet steel, zinc coating is used - galvanized gutters serve longer, and minor damages to the decorative outer covering practically do not affect their service life. If you already decided to equip your roof with a metal gutter system, then you need to buy items from galvanized steel.

Much less problems arise with the use of modern plastics - plastic drains are much durable and do not undergo a corrosion process, no matter how you scratch them. The only drawback of the drainage system from modern plastic is its fragility at negative temperatures - no matter what additives that change the properties of plastic, the manufacturer would not add to the original composition of the material, it is not possible to completely rid the plastic drains of this defect. In the winter, with a strong impact, the drainage made of plastic simply cracks and loses its tightness. But this can be tolerated - no one will specifically destroy it, and worry about the fact that a gutter will smash a meteorite that fell from the sky is not worth it.

water drains

Plastic drains

Elements of drainage system and their function

The roof drain system consists of 6 elements. This is, first of all, gutters, pipes, all kinds of turns, plugs, funnels and fastening elements. The gutters collect water draining from the roof slopes, and by means of funnels direct it to downspouts, which, in turn, transport it to the earth in special water receivers. It is they who remove excess rain and spring moisture away from home.

We do not need to explain the purpose of the fasteners, I think. Here and so everything is clear - for mounting the gutters, special brackets are used, installed under the roof, and for cloak pipes, clamps of the appropriate size are used as fasteners.

All kinds of rotations are usually equipped with a drain pipe - they serve to approach the wall of the building or bypass obstacles on the walls in the form of gas pipes. Also, the turn is installed at the very bottom of the drainpipe in order to prevent water splashes on the base of the building. Well and заглушки - they limit a current of water in undesirable direction - as a rule, them establish on end sites of gutters.

Gutters for roof photo

Roof gutters photo

How to calculate the number of required materials

Calculation of gutters - it's quite simple. Start to consider the necessary material you need from gutters - their number should correspond to the total length of the roof slopes from which you are going to collect water. Further, based on the length of the rays, the required number of drainpipes is selected - as a rule, one funnel is installed for every ten meters of the ramp. If the length of the roof is longer, then several drain points must be organized.

How many funnels, so many pipes provide for roof drainage systems - their required total length is determined by the distance from the roof to the ground level and, accordingly, the number of drainage points.

With turns, the situation is more complicated - they need to be calculated, based on the features of the facade of the building. Here you will understand yourself - the installation of gutters will put everything in its place. At least, missing items can always be bought.

Now about the brackets and clamps. Here everything is simple - for each meter of the installed gutter, one bracket is required. With the fixing of the drainpipes the situation is slightly different - as a rule, only a couple of clamps are enough, but in some cases they may be needed and more. Everything depends on the height of the roof. The principle is simple - every single section of the pipe must be fixed in at least one place.

Roof drainage systems

Roof drainage systems

In general, the calculation of drainage system is carried out quite easily, and it is not necessary to involve specialists for this work. Similarly, the installation of this system is also straightforward. What we are going to do next is how to make a drain with our own hands.

Installation of the drainage system

The main principle according to which the drainage system is installed is the presence of slopes and the tightness of the connections. Adhering to this principle, they establish only the trough. For pipes, the condition remains only one - tightness.

Let's start, perhaps, with the gutters - the principle of their installation is almost the same as when installing the sewer system. To ensure a rapid flow of water through the gutters, they must be installed with a slope toward the funnel. As a rule, to ensure that water flows with a rapid flow, it is sufficient to ensure a gradient of 2-3 °.This bias is almost invisible to the human eye and does not spoil the overall picture at all. For reinsurers this bias may increase to 5 °, however in this case the appearance of the building may suffer.

You should also pay attention to the direction of assembly of individual parts of the gutters - they must be collected in the course of water movement or from a gutter. Each subsequent gutter must be embedded in the previous one - the overlap obtained in this way ensures the tightness of the connection. In addition, you can use a sealant.

The tight connection of the drainage system elements is provided by the manufacturer - you only need to correctly assemble them. Like all other types of modern systems, external drains are a kind of designer, which, moreover, the manufacturer teaches us to use. By purchasing the elements of this system in specialized stores, you can ask the seller for an assembly drawing - it will greatly simplify all the work.

In general, drainage systems are mounted quite simply, the only inconvenience in this whole matter is the height at which you will have to work. Without forests or scaffolds here is indispensable. And remember the two basic principles - tightness and bias: if you follow them, then you will succeed in the most appropriate way!

Unusual gutters

Fantasy designers really have no boundaries - they managed to come up with how to diversify even such a detail as a drain. Stoke in the form of a watering can or whole labyrinths of drain pipes, reminiscent of a serious laboratory, can decorate the building no worse than decorative decoration.

Creative roof drain

Creative roof drain

Unusual gutters in the form of a maze

Unusual gutters in the form of a labyrinth

We hope that you have received answers to your questions about roof gutters.

Author of the article Vladimir Belov


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