A type of wall that is constructed at the end of the roof slab, balcony, or terrace is called a parapet wall. It is one of the most important elements of your house, as it provides safety, privacy, and curb appeal. in this article, we will discuss the parapet walls in detail.
Parapet wall construction
A terrace parapet wall is a low-height wall constructed to provide safety and privacy to the occupants. There are various ways to erect a parapet wall as under;
Concrete Parapet
Brick Parapet
Cast Aluminum Parapet
Concrete Parapet
The concrete parapet wall is the most common type of parapet wall used around the world as it is the most durable and strong as compared to other types. To construct a parapet wall with concrete, the steel bars must be erected from the slab and formwork must be provided before the casting of concrete. A concrete parapet wall can be made in any design, shape, and length with peace of mind.
Brick Parapet
The Brick Parapet wall is the most economical in terms of labor cost and time consumption. It is not strong as a concrete parapet but provides decent curb appeal. It is erected above the slab edges and at the height of 90cm.
Cast Aluminum Parapet Railing
Cast aluminum parapet railing is decorative to increase the curb appeal of your house. It is made of cast aluminum and often installed on the top roofs to increase the decorative prospect of your house. Cast aluminum railing can also be installed on balconies and terraces. The minimum height of the cast aluminum railing is 90 cm.
Parapet Wall Details
Following are the cross-sectional details of the parapet.
In this sectional diagram, complete details of the parapet wall are illustrated, the connection point is beveled with a cant strip to provide a tapered edge in the bottom of the parapet. this will make sure the water slipping stop completely.
on top of the parapet, copping is provided for easy drainage of rainwater.it is necessary to element the seepage factor and overcome the dampness in the buildings.
Modern Building Parapet Wall Design
There are some modern building parapet designs used for different types of houses and buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Parapet:
1. How to Cap My Parapet wall on the rooftop?
Capping is very important for parapets on rooftops, it is also known for copping in construction industry terms. it secures the membrane and prevents water sleepege in the bricks or concerts. and provides an effective method against dampness in the buildings. for copping we can use two materials effectively;
- Metal Copping
- Terracoating Copping
we have to make sure three basic points while installing copping.
- our copping should be slopped
- our copping should have installed dripping edges
- we have to install a secondary water barrier
2. How to provide overflow scuppers on a flat roof with parapet walls?
scuppers are openings that provide a way out to excessive water on the roof. when installing scuppers in the roof or parapet, wood blocking below the flange provides a solid base for the flashing to fix it. it should be installed a minimum of 10′ apart to ensure an adequate water floor. also, make sure the scuppers flange installed in the parapet or the roof has been installed flush against the roofing substrate and fastens properly.
3. How to Terminate a metal roof to Parapet walls?
In circumstances, where metal roof systems are installed on structures that have parapet or adjoining walls, a two-piece flashing is required to use for the parallel transition. In this detail, the metal base flashing assembly is secured directly to the parallel metal panel and set free up the wall. The base flashing becomes part of the metal panel and moves with the panel. A metal counterflashing is secured to the wall and covers the base flashing. The independence of the two flashing materials allows for appropriate expansion and contraction