Canopy Drain Solutions: How Mapes Canopies Ensure Efficient Water Management
When considering a canopy structure, water management is a critically important component. Smart canopy drains protect structures from water damage and preserve the strength and beauty of the canopy itself.
At Mapes, we provide premium canopy products with innovative drainage features designed to prevent water buildup, protect buildings and enhance long-term performance.
Understanding how these smart water management features work can help you with your next commercial job.
The Importance of Effective Canopy Drains
Canopies serve as the first line of defense against the elements for commercial buildings, shielding entryways, walkways and loading areas — all key spaces that ensure convenience and safety.
Without proper management or a correctly installed drainage system, water can drip into high-traffic areas, freeze in cold climates, create slippery surfaces that increase the risk of accidents and can even leak inside the building.
Poor drainage can also lead to water pooling on canopy surfaces or around anchor points and create potential leakage issues. Over time, this can mean more callbacks, pricey repairs and even liability headaches.
Getting drainage right from the start means that a canopy can perform as intended for years to come, even under the harshest weather conditions.
How Proper Drainage Improves Canopy Longevity and Performance
Proper drainage moves water away from buildings, reducing hazards and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. It extends the canopy’s lifespan and ensures it performs reliably season after season — even during heavy rain or snowmelt.
Directing water away from the building walls and foundations helps prevent water damage and leaks. This protection keeps the building safer and reduces costly repairs down the line.
In short, good drainage safeguards both the canopy and the building, requires less maintenance and is a smart investment for long-term durability and safety.
Standard Drainage Solutions for Mapes Canopies
Mapes canopies are engineered for great performance and enhanced style. They’re also designed with smart drainage solutions that improve their performance and protect the building and entrances from water disruptions.
Our canopies are designed with an integral gutter system that takes water from the canopy decking into the perimeter fascia. Our standard 8-inch tall G-shaped fascia is the built-in gutter system of the canopy. From inside the fascia, water then flows to a designated drain point and out the bottom of the fascia.
Drain Options for SuperLumideck
Mapes’ most popular canopy system (SuperLumideck) has four sides of perimeter fascia. The extruded deck pans run perpendicular to the building wall and sit on top of the inside fascia lip that is 1 ½ inches above the bottom of the fascia gutter.
Water flows from the decking into the fascia, which has a 3-inch-wide gutter. A 2-inch drain hole is field-located and drilled in the bottom of the fascia by the canopy installer at the desired drainage point.
From there, Mapes provides a drain stub that is inserted and sealed into the drain hole. Water will then fall from the canopy to the ground surface through the drain stub. Typically, with this design, the canopy will be adjusted to slope away from the building to take water to the front corners.
In place of a drain stub, Mapes can also supply a scupper, which will divert water further from the drain holes away from the canopy.
Mapes can also provide either roll-formed or extruded downspouts. These are designed to attach to our standard drain stub with rivets and take water from the canopy fascia down to the ground level. Downspouts can either be a stand-alone drain or tied into a below-grade drainage system.
Intermediate Trough for Lumishade
Our economical Lumishade canopy system comes standard with three sides of 8-inch fascia and uses roll-formed decking sections that run parallel with the wall.
Mapes provides an intermediate trough that is installed at the bottom of each decking section, taking water from the top of the canopy into the front fascia gutter. Drain holes are again field-located in the front fascia where desired, and a drain stub or scupper is installed.
If rear drainage is preferred with the Lumishade system, Mapes will provide a rear gutter that is attached to the back of the canopy and runs along the building wall the full length of the canopy. The gutter ends are close, notched and sealed to fit the fascia. A downspout can then be utilized at the back of the canopy to take water to the ground level.
Drainage for Post Supported Canopies
With a Mapes Post Supported canopy, the standard drainage system channels water from the canopy decking into the support beams and down through the vertical posts, eliminating the need for external gutters or visible drains.
This method sends water down through the hollow posts, where it drains out at ground level through a 2-inch diameter drain hole.
Fascia drains with installed drain stubs or scuppers are also an option, as well as incorporating downspouts if post drainage is not preferred.
Flashing & Sealing
Proper flashing and sealing of the canopy is an important aspect, as it helps the canopy function properly and protects the building envelope.
Mapes provides a simple flashing that runs along the back fascia and attaches to the exterior of the building wall. This helps take water from the building into the canopy so it doesn’t affect joints, seams or transition areas behind the canopy.
With a mechanically fastened canopy system, it’s also very important for the canopy installer to properly apply sealant around all joints, seams, fascia breaks, corner angles and wall penetrations.
Mapes recommends using a 100% silicone-based sealant for all exposed areas where water could seep through cracks.
Factors Affecting Drainage Solutions
Canopy design, environmental factors and other elements must be considered when choosing the right drainage solutions. The biggest factors that determine this choice include:
Canopy Size and Considerations
The overall canopy size (projection and width) must be considered when determining the number of drain points needed for the canopy to handle water drainage properly. The longer the width and the deeper the projection, the more water the canopy surface will collect, which increases the demand on the drainage system.
Mapes recommends a minimum of one drain point per every 20 linear feet of canopy fascia for adequate water handling. For canopies with extended projections greater than 5 feet, consider drain points closer to 15 linear feet.
Environmental Factors and Customization Needs
Local climate conditions like the average rainfall, snow load, wind exposure and freeze-thaw cycles directly impact how much water the system needs to handle and how quickly it must drain.
In cold-weather climates, adding heat trace components inside the canopy gutters may be necessary to prevent ice buildup.
Location-specific challenges like landscaping, sloped pavement or adjacent structures also influence drainage direction and discharge points.
When it comes to customization, things like design needs, branding or material choices can affect where drainage can be added without taking away from the overall look.
It’s important to consider all of these project-specific demands before choosing a commercial canopy and drainage solution for your project.
Why Choose Mapes Canopies for Efficient Canopy Drain Solutions?
For over 70 years, Mapes has been at the forefront of the building industry, delivering innovative, high-quality, performance-focused systems. Professionals know they can count on a Mapes canopy for top performance, long-lasting durability and clever design.
Proven Systems for Long-Term Durability
Mapes canopy systems are built to last, with a track record that industry professionals trust. Mapes products are constructed from durable materials like aluminum and powder-coated finishes that stand up to corrosion, weather and wear over time.
Every component — from structural framing to integrated drainage — is designed for real-world conditions and long-term use. Whether it’s a high-traffic retail entry or a weather-exposed loading dock, Mapes canopies hold up under pressure.
Custom Solutions Tailored to Your Project’s Needs
Mapes understands that no two projects are alike. That’s why we have custom canopy solutions tailored to your exact specifications. Whether you’re working with unique building conditions, specific architectural styles or strict code requirements, we can adapt canopies to fit your needs.
From custom sizes and shapes to built-in lighting, signs and drainage, our systems are made to fit your project specs perfectly. That means fewer on-site modifications, an easier installation and a finished product that blends right in with the building’s look and purpose.
Find The Right Canopy System For Your Next Project at Mapes
Mapes has a reputation for quality and innovation because we work directly with you to find the right canopy for your specific needs.
Browse through our canopy systems or reach out to us directly. We’re here to help you select the best canopy solution for your next project.
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