Bay flat roofs overflowing

[r.langford93]

I own a 30's double fronted mid terrace. The front bays have both started overflowing down the front of the house. Initially I though this was a roof gutter issue so had it cleaned and checked. Unfortunately it's still overflowing when it rains off the bays. I can't fit guttering to the bays (the obvious fix) as there's no drainage at the front of mine. A roofer suggested new fiberglass roofs (the ones in are fine that said) with a better drip edge. However, the draining holes he'd fit would still redirect some water over paint stone work leaving a possible unslightly black stain - he said it very well might. I'm perplexed re how to fix this. What's being suggested seems to be just moving it overflowing from the front to the sides. Has anyone any ideas?

 

[blup]

A lot of victorian terraces have down pipes that discharge on to the front or even the footway, is it feasible to do this with your 1930s house.

Blup

 

[r.langford93]

The roofer didn't want to do this as he thought it could cause issues in cold weather with water freezing and a slip hazard - it's also a sloping concrete drive so water could even run to the pavement and cause issues there too. He'd only do it if he could discharge water into a drain and there's no drain on my front very unfortunately. Hence why I'm looking for ideas.

 

[blup]

Maybe to a soakaway then, pics would help.

Blup

 

[r.langford93]

 

[r.langford93]

As can be seen it's coming off the bays down the front. The Roofer wanted to fit two new fiberglass roofs with much better lips and drainage holes towards the door. I'm a bit concerned I'm just moving the overflowing to the inner windows of the bays.

 

[^woody^]

If this has only just started then it's not a drainage issue, nor an edge design issue.

Those roofs have always "overflowed", so you need to find out what has changed, and rectify that. It could be something as simple as needing a good clean (the roof and/or the bay) as the overflow is filthy and thus visible. Or the roof may be holding water due to age, or the edge drip deformed again due to age.

It looks like lead, so may well be able to be re dressed or relaid. Otherwise, the remedy may well be recovering, but that should not involve introducing design changes or drainage that was not there previously.

Basically, drainage is not the issue so don't base any remedy on that being the primary factor.

 

[r.langford93]

I've never thought about having stuff cleaned. I didn't even know people did. That's certainly food for thought.

 

[^woody^]

Yes, any ponding on the roof would cause moss and algae to grow and the stagnant water to be dirty, to then gradually spill over. Whereas free-flowing water would be clean and just run off invisibly right after rain.

So whilst dirty water may be the issue, ponding could be the cause.

Get it looked at after rain, ask for good clear photos of the surface.

 

[fourtytwo]

Maybe the gutter for the main roof has become blocked causing it to overflow onto the flat roofs!
I cannot even see it's downpipe, is it to the left of the LH bay ?

 

[r.langford93]

I had the roof guttering checked as a first point of call. The downpipes are at the end terraces either side.