Homeowner guide
Gutters vs Canales
Pitched roofs shed water along their whole edge into gutters. Flat roofs drain to a few openings in the parapet, out through canales or scuppers.
The difference
Two roofs, two ways to drain
On a pitched roof, rain runs down the slope and off every edge. A gutter along the edge collects it and sends it to downspouts.
On a flat or pueblo-style roof, the roof is built with a gentle slope toward a few openings in the parapet. Each opening has a canale that throws water away from the wall, or a scupper that feeds a downspout.
Side by side
Gutters vs canales compared
| Gutters | Canales | |
|---|---|---|
| Roof type | Pitched | Flat / pueblo |
| Collects from | Entire roof edge | A few roof openings |
| Water released | Through downspouts | Off the end, or into a downspout |
| Common problem | Leaky joints, sagging | Too short, rusted, dumping on wall |
| Look | Line along roof edge | Spouts through the parapet |
Both
Homes with both roof types
Many New Mexico homes mix a pitched main roof with flat porches or additions. We design one drainage plan with seamless gutters on the pitched parts and canales or scuppers on the flat parts, all ending somewhere the water can soak in away from the house.