My way of stopping blocked roof drains

Rob_benton

Member
 Bedfordshire
Hi

I thought I'd share the way that I hopefully have stopped blocked roof drains. It's a long piece of rolled up anti-slip mat. I know it's not ideal if you use the car daily but I use the car once a week. I'm sure you could make it neater if you wanted. I just chuck it in the boot before I drive. A 5 second job.
 
Not sure about that. I think it will just encourage more mould to grow in the damp area created on the fabric behind the mesh.

I also would use a cover and simply keep the roof 100% dry and debris free
 
You could, and I did, but got fed up with it scratching the paintwork. Didn't matter how well I cleaned the cover and car, dust in the air got underneath and left scratches where it rubbed the paint.
 
I've been using it for the last six months. No green, and I would say its doesn't attract more debris. But when I remove it, there is a bit of dirt left on the hood that I simple Hoover or wipe away. The dirt otherwise would be going down the roof drains.

I guess it's not for everyone.
 
cant be any worse than a load of old dead leaves stuck in there. not sure how it will stop the drains getting blocked as water will still collect and drag in mud and stuff but at least the leaves will stay out a bit more.
 
If you're gonna go through the trouble once a week of putting that there and removing it and hoovering anyway, why not just open the top slightly each time you go out for a drive and just do a quick pass with the vacuum?
 
igeak691 said:
If you're gonna go through the trouble once a week of putting that there and removing it and hoovering anyway, why not just open the top slightly each time you go out for a drive and just do a quick pass with the vacuum?

Because in between vacuuming weekly, I don't know what's washed down to the roof motor drain hole.
 
Rob_benton said:
I've been using it for the last six months. No green, and I would say its doesn't attract more debris. But when I remove it, there is a bit of dirt left on the hood that I simple Hoover or wipe away. The dirt otherwise would be going down the roof drains.

I guess it's not for everyone.

I would not expect 'green' over the last 6 months which has been the dry Summer season. The next 6 months of Winter will be when the green appears when it never dries out, which it does anyway to some extent between the hood and rubber body gasket on all Zeds left outside in winter. This will make it much worse.

As for the post above whole leaves wont wash down the holes, only small debris and dirt. You device wont stop this at all and maybe even ease its entry by creating a gap between roof and gasket

Def agree that it's not for everyone
 
Jonny Essex have you got a roof cover only I just bought one and where the magnets hold the cover in place by the door handle , has left little scratch marks which I had to rub out , wondered if you ever had any troubles with markings from cover cheers Sam .
 
Rob I too got scratch marks from a roof cover and I too made sure the car and magnets were clean not sure how to stop them ?
 
Sammy said:
Jonny Essex have you got a roof cover only I just bought one and where the magnets hold the cover in place by the door handle , has left little scratch marks which I had to rub out , wondered if you ever had any troubles with markings from cover cheers Sam .

Thank you.

Look closer and I bet you'll see more tiny scratches in certain light. My worst scratches were around the wing mirrors/front wing, but I had scratches everywhere the cover touched the paintwork.
And I did everything thing to try and prevent it happening.
Dirt in the air gets trapped under the cover, and then the movement of the cover in the wind rubs the grit on the paintwork. All it takes is a few millimetres of movement back and forth.
Having black paintwork made the scratches stand out more.

I even tried hoovering the inside of the cover before putting it on.

And to top it off, the black cover turned brown.
 
Sammy said:
Rob I too got scratch marks from a roof cover and I too made sure the car and magnets were clean not sure how to stop them ?

You can't in my experience. I got fed up using my dual action polisher every few weeks to remove the scratches.
 
I have one of these, never had a problem

https://www.classicadditions.com/gallery/?category=Waterproof+Half+Covers
 
Surely those straps are going to rub any dirt they have on the paintwork.
That looks worse than the cabrioshield.

That would be a big no no in the detailing world.
 
Rob_benton said:
Surely those straps are going to rub any dirt they have on the paintwork.
That looks worse than the cabrioshield.

Believe me, if it was marking my paintwork I wouldn't be using it :thumbsup:
 
Don't listen to these lot, :poke: if it works for you and your car, it's ok.
If you start seeing green then stop using it, simples.
 
Carol M said:
Don't listen to these lot, :poke: if it works for you and your car, it's ok.
If you start seeing green then stop using it, simples.

Ha ha thanks Carol M. I'll let you use it on your Boxster before I Patent the idea.
 
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