Source for Roof Drain Cage
I have a flat roof, with a drain in the top – just a hole in the flat roof, with a pipe that goes down to the drain on the ground. Earlier this year, during a big rain, the drain was clogged by a plastic bag that blew onto it, the water backed up on…
I have a flat roof, with a drain in the top – just a hole in the flat roof, with a pipe that goes down to the drain on the ground. Earlier this year, during a big rain, the drain was clogged by a plastic bag that blew onto it, the water backed up on the roof, and we wound up with two feet of water on the roof. Not only did the water leak into the house at a tremendous rate – going all the way through the ceiling, down the stairwell and through the house – but my contractor tells me I was lucky the roof didn’t collapse.
So, it turns out that the little cage (like an upside down basket) that sits over the drain and is supposed to protect it, is very old and is falling apart. There is one whole corner where the “spokes” of the basket have broken out. I need to find a new heavy metal cage to put over the drain to keep trash out. But I cannot find one – I have been to hardware stores, plumbing stores, and can’t seem to find anyone who knows where to get one. Any ideas?
Go to http://www.roofdrainexpress.com, they specialize in replacement parts for roof drains. If you don’t find exactly what you need, call them.
If you can’t find one that fits you can always make one out of heavy gauge aluminum or copper wire. Make one circle loop that fits inside the drain hole, make a second loop a little bigger than the hole, and a third loop really small. String wire in parallel from the first to second to third loops, wrapping around each loop to hold everything in place. The run between the second and third loops should be long: this is the part that will stick above the roof level blocking large objects.
I just bought 3 last Nov. at Home Depot.
Try Superior Tinsmith, 282 6th Street near 4th Avenue, (718) 499-0498 http://www.superiortinsmith.com/
forgot to mention > try a roofing supply store…there are a few in bklyn.
the correct terminology is roof drain “strainer” – do an internet search you will see they are readily available to buy all over the web.
in the meantime, why not just put a mesh metal kitchen collander over the existing damaged strainer. (and put a brick on the top of it so it stays in place.) the collander should be the mesh type, not perforated with holes, for easy water flow.