Deck Drainage Systems

Engineered Water Flow

Standing water is the enemy of every roof deck—it accelerates membrane deterioration, promotes algae growth, creates slip hazards, and adds structural load that compounds with every rain event. Yet many decks are built with inadequate slope, undersized drains, or drainage points that clog with the first windblown debris. Chicago's storm patterns can dump an inch of rain in an hour, and if your drainage system can't handle that volume, you'll find the weak points fast.

We engineer deck drainage as an integrated system: tapered insulation or sleeper assemblies to create consistent 1/4-inch-per-foot slope toward drain points, properly sized internal drains with clamping rings that lock to the membrane, through-wall scuppers for backup overflow protection, and conductor heads that transition to downspouts without turbulence. Each component is sized based on tributary drainage area and Chicago's 100-year storm intensity requirements.

The result is a deck that drains completely within hours of the heaviest rain—no puddles, no ponding zones, no water sitting on your membrane waiting to find a path inside. Combined with regular cleanout access and leaf strainer baskets, your drainage system works reliably year after year with minimal maintenance.