How to install plums on the roof

The roof of any building first takes on all the hardships: rain flows, snow mass, wind gusts. Moisture that can accumulate in the uneven roofing brings particular harm. To eliminate possible troubles, special devices are installed on the roof - plums. In this article we will explain step by step how to install plums on the roof with your own hands.

Meaning plum

If moisture remains on the surface of the roof, this may cause the destruction of the roof material. Water affects not only the surface of the roof itself. It can leak into the joints between the wall and the roof, get to the ceiling, and can even cause damage to the foundation. To prevent this from happening, an entire drainage system is being designed and installed, the basis of which is the drainage system.

They allow you to direct the water flow in the right direction. In this case, the water should fall into a specially equipped drainage system, which allows it to move further into the sewage system.

Note! If you competently design and properly install a drainage system, this will extend the life of the dwelling, will save the walls and foundation from premature aging.

Materials for the manufacture of the drain system

For the construction of plums used various materials. All of them have both advantages and disadvantages. The criteria for choosing a material are the quality, cost and availability of material resources from the home owner.

Materials for mounting the drain system can be:

• Galvanized steel. This is the most affordable material at a cost. However, it has a significant drawback: it is subject to corrosion over time. Therefore, the service life of his small.

• The same steel, but coated with polymer. It has an attractive appearance and a long service life. The polymer coating allows you to get rid of the main drawback - fast-forming rust. This material can be painted with a special paint of such color that it organically fits into the exterior of the house. Particular attention should be paid to installation, while excluding damage to the protective polymer layer. It is somewhat more expensive than galvanized, but it will last much longer.
• Plastic plums or PVC are popular because of their low cost, ease of installation and long service life. However, if during the preliminary design mistakes were made, as a result of which a water column could form in the discharge, then such pipes in the winter time may not withstand and expand. These plums make the house look more modern because they are made in different colors. The service life of such systems when properly installed is thirty years or more.

• Drains and plums can be made of copper. It has almost no flaws. But she has a very high cost and only such a person can afford such plums.

• There is an opportunity to make plums from lead. Due to its excellent technical characteristics and physico-chemical properties, it is not susceptible to corrosion, is not susceptible to temperature changes. Installation is not difficult.
• Plums of ceramics. Drain construction of ceramic material is durable, temperature resistant, easy to install. There is a significant drawback - there is a high probability of blockages.
• Cement drains have excellent performance, they are inexpensive, durable and reliable. They are especially popular when performing the drain system for small buildings: summer cottages, bathhouses.

Preparatory activities 

You need to initially calculate the required amount of material for the manufacture of individual elements of the system. We will need:

• gutters, couplings and brackets;
• funnels to receive water flow;
• fitting;
• drainpipes to be installed in a vertical position.

For correct calculation, it is necessary to calculate the roof area and the number of corners. From these parameters depends on the diameter of the pipes, the number of funnels and pipes, gutters. If the roof is large, then it is necessary to additionally install horizontal drains and the system will be quite complex and cumbersome.

It is best to entrust the calculation to the specialists; then you will not have to acquire extra material. Calculations are carried out with great accuracy.

Installation

To install the sinks, it is necessary to carry out work in strict sequence:

1. Choose the optimal amount of material, component parts and purchase the right tool. So, it was decided to install the system using plastic pipes. They are not susceptible to corrosion, are easy to install and have a small weight.
2. The components of the system will be: gutters, fittings, brackets, connecting devices. The brackets are needed to attach the vertical pipe to the walls of the house. Fittings allow you to change the direction of flow of water. With the help of gutters, water is directed to the funnels. It is necessary to determine the specific place where water will flow and orient the whole system in the chosen direction.
3. Fastening brackets are mounted on the wall at a distance of sixty centimeters from one another. They are attached to the surface of the wall with screws. Gutters are mounted on brackets at a distance of two and a half millimeters from the tip of the roof. Be sure to measure the distance that is needed for the optimal location of the gutters.
4. In the production of one-way discharge, it is necessary to provide a special cap. By closing one side of the gutter securely, it is possible to ensure that water flows in only one direction. If the overall dimensions of the house are small, then it is quite possible to get along with a gutter with a radius of six centimeters, and the drain pipe will fit ten millimeters in diameter. For a dwelling of a larger roof area, the dimensions of the rainwater drainage system need to be proportionally increased.
5. The main rule when installing a drain system is to maintain the desired angle of inclination. The difference between the upper and lower ends of the gutter should be between five and fifteen millimeters. With a large angle of inclination such a drainage system may adversely affect the appearance of the dwelling.
6. It is necessary to prepare material for bonding gutter joints in advance. For this purpose, suitable special glue. You will also need a screwdriver, a hacksaw for my metal or a Bulgarian, rubber gaskets. Glue and sealant will be useful for connecting pipes and fittings. Tubes are connected on the principle of a puzzle.
7. If it is possible to use a new technology, you can install an anti-icing system. You will need cables, temperature and humidity sensors to mount a robotic intelligent system. It is able to systematically clean all the elements of the drain from pollution and prevent icing. But for the usual country house is not relevant. It is enough that all elements of the watering machine work properly.
8. When the system is fully mounted, it is necessary to conduct tests. To do this, you can pour a bucket of water on the roof and see how all the elements of the system work. When troubleshooting, they should be eliminated.

If there is an opportunity, then you should invite an assistant consultant who has special knowledge in the field of installation of drainage systems. You can familiarize yourself with the detailed installation instructions and watch videos, which capture the entire process of installing the drain. It must be remembered that a timely and properly installed drain system will preserve the beautiful appearance of the facade, warn of the possibility of the destruction of the foundation and walls.

Note! Experts recommend: in order to prevent clogging of the drain structure, a metal grid should be installed on top of the funnels from above. Then it will pass only the water flow, and everything else will settle on the grid.

However, in this case, it is necessary to systematically check the condition of the nets and clean them in a timely manner. If this is not done, then when the grids are clogged, the drain system stops functioning. This is done simply. We need to climb to the roof and inspect all entrances. This is especially true in the offseason, namely in spring and autumn.

If the owner of the house does not have the opportunity to install the drain system himself, you can hire a specialized brigade, which in a short time interval can qualitatively perform the entire scope of work.

Video

This video is about installing gutters: