Parapet
The low wall around the edge of a terrace or roof.
On an actual building
It is exposed on both faces and on top, so it takes more thermal movement than anything else on the building. The terrace-to-parapet junction is one of the most common leak paths, and water entering the wall head travels down inside it.
What we most often have to correct
That leaks near the parapet mean the terrace failed. Water entering an uncapped parapet head emerges at that junction and gets misdiagnosed as terrace failure regularly.
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Coping
A protective capping over the top of a parapet or freestanding wall, shaped to shed water clear of both faces..
- Upturn (Skirting)
The vertical continuation of a waterproofing layer up an adjoining wall or parapet, terminated mechanically at the top..
- Thermal Movement
Expansion and contraction of building materials as temperature changes.
More building elements terms
Parapet — questions we get asked
What does parapet mean in waterproofing?
The low wall around the edge of a terrace or roof.
Why does parapet matter on a real project?
It is exposed on both faces and on top, so it takes more thermal movement than anything else on the building. The terrace-to-parapet junction is one of the most common leak paths, and water entering the wall head travels down inside it.
What do people commonly get wrong about parapet?
That leaks near the parapet mean the terrace failed. Water entering an uncapped parapet head emerges at that junction and gets misdiagnosed as terrace failure regularly.
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