Flat Roof Parapet Wall Leak

A parapet wall provides continuity and support in terms of water air vapor and thermal control.

Flat roof parapet wall leak.

Water may be entering the coping at the top of the parapet or entering the roof side of the parapet. Very common also are leaks at parapet wall flashing and parapet wall caps. Is a flat roof actually flat. There are other common causes for leakage at parapet walls.

The most common flat and low slope roof leaks occur at flashings and roof penetrations such as at plumbing vents chimneys and roof mounted air conditioners or heat pumps. Water from either of these locations may bypass flashing and enter the backup wall directly. However in my own experience the problems with leaking flat roofs are usually as a result of either poor workmanship installing the roof membrane poor maintenance by the building owner or as a result of age. Roofing industry spokesmen say that up to 90 percent of flat and low slope roof leaks occur.

For clarity flat roofs actually have a slight slope to allow rain water to drain off the roof but they seem flat when compared with more traditional steeply sloped roofs. This roofer explains how problems with parapet walls and the coping stones are causing water to pool under the felt and leak into the ceiling below. Proper roof wall abutment flashing examples. Parapet wall leak repair waterproofing.

A well designed and waterproofed flat roof should not cause problems or leak. Leaking roof from a parapet wall youtube. Metal and stone copings leak at joints. Flashing against walls chimneys skylights vent pipes and air conditioners cau.

Slope the top of them inward so they don t stain the building façade. If the cavity drains freely water should move down to the lower levels of flashing and drain from the wall. A parapet wall is a low protective structural layer that is built adjacent to a roof. This new torch on flat roof is leaking because the parapet walls and the coping stones are defective water damage to the ceiling below from the leaking ceil.

Copings and parapet walls are the reason for a high percentage of the waterproofing issues in flat roof construction. Make sure that there is a waterproof membrane under the coping.