Movement
The parapet wall and the roof deck are separate pieces of the house. They expand and shrink differently with Albuquerque's big day-night temperature swings. Where they meet, the roof surface gets stretched and compressed every day. A sharp, unsupported corner cracks; a rounded cant flexes.
Exposure
A parapet is exposed on three sides. Rain falls straight onto the cap, wind drives water into the outside face, and the inside face holds snow and pooled water.
Hidden paths
Once water gets into a parapet, it runs down inside the wall, along framing or through adobe, and appears inside at the ceiling line or partway down the wall. That's why parapet leaks often look like they're coming from the roof edge or a window.
The fixes
- Seal and coat caps, or add coping
- Rebuild the corner with a proper cant
- Carry the roof system up and over the inside face
- Patch stucco cracks, especially at corners and canales
See parapet repair.
Common questions
Why did my leak start after a windy storm?
Wind-driven rain gets into cap and stucco cracks that normal rain doesn't reach.
Can I seal the cap myself?
Small cracks can be temporarily sealed, but use a product compatible with the cap and roof, and have the corner checked too.