What parapet Waterproofing covers
A parapet is the wall standing above roof level. It is exposed on both faces and along the top, so it weathers faster than any other part of a building and is a common source of leaks that look like roof leaks from inside.
A parapet is the wall standing above roof level. It is exposed on both faces and along the top, so it weathers faster than any other part of a building and is a common source of leaks that look like roof leaks from inside.
Sealing the wall that stands above the roofline, which is exposed on every side and fails first.
Waystar carries out this work on residential and commercial property in Brooklyn and across New York City. Every project starts with a look at the building, and the scope, the materials and the figures are written down before anything begins.
When might you need it?
These are the signs owners usually notice first.
- Damp at the top of an interior wall just below roof level
- Open or missing mortar along the top of the parapet
- Coping stones cracked, loose or without a drip detail
- Vegetation growing out of the parapet joints
- A roof membrane that stops short instead of turning up the wall
What the work involves
- Inspection of both parapet faces, the coping and the roof junction
- Failed pointing raked out and repointed
- Copings reset or replaced with a proper overhang and drip
- Membrane dressed up the parapet and terminated correctly
- Cap flashing installed to shed water clear of the wall
- Junction with the roof covering sealed as one continuous detail
How the process works
Inspect all three surfaces
Inner face, outer face and coping each weather differently and each can be the route in.
Repair the masonry first
Membrane over open joints simply hides them.
Detail the coping
Overhang and drip are what stop water tracking down the wall face.
Tie in to the roof
The parapet and the roof covering are finished as one continuous detail.
What you get
- The single most exposed part of the building properly sealed
- Leaks that were blamed on the roof actually resolved
- A coping that throws water clear instead of running it down the face
What affects the scope
- Parapet height and how much of it is exposed
- Coping condition and whether stones can be reset or need replacing
- How the existing roof covering terminates at the wall
- Access to the outer face, which often needs scaffold or a platform
This is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. A property visit is required before any price is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the parapet always the problem?
Because it is exposed on three surfaces while the rest of the wall is exposed on one. It weathers several times faster than anything below it.
Can this be done without full scaffold?
Sometimes from a platform or from the roof, depending on height and the outer face condition. We will tell you what access the job actually needs.
Does the coping have to be replaced?
Not always. Sound copings can often be lifted, cleaned and reset with a proper bed and drip detail.
Services often needed alongside this
This service is part of Waterproofing.
Related work
