We've got some damp into the upstairs bedroom and I looked about it looks like we've some crack/damage to the parapet wall you can see in the top part of picture which I think might be contributing. What do you think is the best way to repair this? Could you just fill the crack with render and maybe render the top line of bricks or do you need to rebuild it again. I don't really want to put flashing tape over it as it will look like a bodge job as you can see it from street level.
Leaking parapet wall
- Thread starter harveyjj
- Start date
- Joined
- 7 Sep 2022
- Messages
- 4,368
- Reaction score
- 1,247
- Country
Did always feel like details like this were a bit naff (I have them, and they're failing in more or less the same way)
Your neighbour has a row lock course atop their parapet; I suspect yours was the same once upon a time, now rendered over to try and prevent an issue like what you're seeing
Over time your coping stones will have migrated down slightly, pushing the wall apart at the bottom where their direction changes; if you want to solve that with some longevity you'll probably need to rebuild it
If the bottom of the wall has no fall/the top slopes backwards away from the face of the house, it could easily be shedding water into the wall where it's cracked. There also doesn't appear to be a decent bit of anything to discharge water from the top of the p-wall into the gutter. Any water that successfully runs down the p-wall top will end up flowing down the front of the building, compounding your problem
As a starter for ten you could certainly try gunning that gap full of mortar, hacking out that crack some way and then re-rendering it up
Your neighbour has a row lock course atop their parapet; I suspect yours was the same once upon a time, now rendered over to try and prevent an issue like what you're seeing
Over time your coping stones will have migrated down slightly, pushing the wall apart at the bottom where their direction changes; if you want to solve that with some longevity you'll probably need to rebuild it
If the bottom of the wall has no fall/the top slopes backwards away from the face of the house, it could easily be shedding water into the wall where it's cracked. There also doesn't appear to be a decent bit of anything to discharge water from the top of the p-wall into the gutter. Any water that successfully runs down the p-wall top will end up flowing down the front of the building, compounding your problem
As a starter for ten you could certainly try gunning that gap full of mortar, hacking out that crack some way and then re-rendering it up
Last edited:
OP,
The cracks we see could be opened up a little & then sealed with Polyurethane sealant but given the obvious more serious damage then it makes more sense to rebuild.
However, the fragile slates on your roof could easily be damaged by any activity on the roof?
Working from a tied-in tower, without going on the roof, a codge bit of a render repair would be possible to the obvious damage?
The lead cover flashing looks as though it has been stuck on, & not correctly turned into a chase? It also comes down too low.
google "kick out" diverter for roofing - you might need one?
Going into the loft you might be able to pin point where the leak begins on the party wall?
Your gutter is filling with debris - maybe the outlet is blocked or the down pipe is blocked?
Or the gutter falls either side of the outlet are not adequate to drain the gutter?
FWIW: Your neighbour's separate gutter is pulling away from its fixings - its becoming a danger to anyone below.
The cracks we see could be opened up a little & then sealed with Polyurethane sealant but given the obvious more serious damage then it makes more sense to rebuild.
However, the fragile slates on your roof could easily be damaged by any activity on the roof?
Working from a tied-in tower, without going on the roof, a codge bit of a render repair would be possible to the obvious damage?
The lead cover flashing looks as though it has been stuck on, & not correctly turned into a chase? It also comes down too low.
google "kick out" diverter for roofing - you might need one?
Going into the loft you might be able to pin point where the leak begins on the party wall?
Your gutter is filling with debris - maybe the outlet is blocked or the down pipe is blocked?
Or the gutter falls either side of the outlet are not adequate to drain the gutter?
FWIW: Your neighbour's separate gutter is pulling away from its fixings - its becoming a danger to anyone below.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
