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Parapet Roofs

What is a Parapet Roof?

A parapet is a wall-like structure at the edge of a roof.  Essentially it is a wall or railing at a height of around no more than three feet or so.  This can be a safety feature in that it is designed to stop falls from the edge of the roof but it can also be a defensive, constructional or stylistic feature.  Parapets can be used to give a roof the appearance of a flat roof.  The parapet can rise above the cornice of the building, and rounded parapets are often used as decorative features.  Most flat roofs also have a parapet. 

Why Have a Parapet Roof?

Parapet walls can serve several purposes.  They are great for fire protection as when the wall is extended above the roof plane, the parapet wall stops the flames coming up the exterior of the building and immediately igniting the roofing membrane.  A parapet can modify the wind flow over the roof so that the pressure on it is more evenly distributed.  This is called wind-uplift resistance.  Wind-induced roofing failures generally happen when the force of the wind lifts the edge of the roof and then peeling back the entire roof system.  The parapet stops the wind from being able to get between the roof and the exterior walls of the home.  Another safety feature of a parapet roof is that it stops objects and detritus from being blown onto or falling onto the ground below.

Parapets also serve an aesthetic purpose.  They can hide an unsightly roofing material, or hide equipment that is placed on the roof (such as a rooftop venting system).  They can also improve the proportions of a building by increasing the apparent height of the building.  The outside of the parapet wall will have a similar finish to the rest of the exterior walls.  The finish on the roof side of the parapet will depend on the treatments used on the roof.

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