Scuppers are drain outlets on the edge of a roof.
The outlet can be just a deep channel with a spout like an outlet or can go through a wall section. Most of the time a scupper will lead water into a leader header. The best draining system is to have a wide scupper and water-free fall to the ground.
Benefits of a scupper:
The best draining system is to have scuppers along the edge of the roof that let the water free fall to the ground.
- If it is wide enough, the scupper will not get clogged with leaves.
- With rainstorm debris and leaves get washed off the roof
- Low maintenance
- Inexpensive
- A roof will not get flooded as in a drain or gutter
When a scupper is connected with a down-pipe, the chances are it will freeze during winter and not drain any water.
These types of scuppers are not very practical because they get clogged with leaves and debris easily.
The copper scupper on this small flat roof is very efficient. It is full and water shoots over the edge of the roof.
Flat roofs that are designed to have scuppers as a drainage system are almost maintenance-free. Open-end scuppers allow for debris to be washed off the roof, unlike a drain or gutter that gets full of debris.
Notice the scupper we installed is twice as wide as the supper in the top picture. Leaves and debris will be washed off the roof in a rainstorm.
Decorative Scuppers
Some architects want to show off and request coppersmiths to make decorative scuppers