Since ancient times, parapet wall has been an essential component of the construction business.
The fortress at Buhen in Egypt contains the earliest recorded occurrence.
To defend China against the Mongols, even the renowned Great Wall of China’s fortifications around Assyrian cities had parapets.
It was used to defend forts from attackers and was viewed as a sign of strength in antiquity.
However, it is now utilized for ornamental or aesthetic reasons.
It served as a battlement architecture for castles, forts, and city walls throughout all the great civilizations before it was used as an ornament.
What is Parapet Wall?
The term “parapet wall” describes the low wall constructed along the roof, terrace, or balcony edge of a building.
This useful wall serves as a barrier to stop people from accidentally falling.
Beautiful and intricate parapet designs improve the look of your property overall which is a crucial component of its overall decor.
Therefore, it’s important to think carefully about the type of parapet you place in your homes.
Purpose of Parapet Wall:
- The roof’s edges are affected by a vortex formed by blowing wind, which results in a huge pressure difference.
- It prevents moisture, dust, or debris from penetrating the roof.
- It protects from contamination in the event of any rooftop activities.
- In terms of construction, the main justification for building this wall is to maintain the movement of air, water, and heat.
- It also serves as a deterrent against unpleasant events such as falling from the roof.
- The top can be covered with a wall to create a large room that can be put to a variety of uses.
Types of Parapet Walls:
1. Embattled or Crenelation Walls:
The earliest parapet walls made by masons were encamped or crenelation walls.
This wall has squared crenels or notches with a different, recurring pattern on top.
For the archers, crenelation was done on purpose usually as a tactical defence during a siege.
The greatest example of a weak wall is the Great Wall of China.
These walls give the building a modern, imperial, and regal feel.
2. Plain Parapet Walls:
This wall seems to be a continuation of the one below it.
It is moderately plain hence it lacks any aesthetic appeal and just appears to be a plain construction.
It does offer some compensation, such as safety and privacy.
Additionally, it is preferable to incorporate coping and corbel into its system to support the structural load.
These walls are simple to construct and keep up.
3. Panelled Parapet:
This parapet is an earlier design that resembles a basic parapet wall, but the exterior of the wall has a panelled design.
The structure is made prettier by these panels.
During the Gothic era of English literature, people constructed this style of parapet wall as a decorative accent that affluent customers wanted.
As it is inexpensive, this fashion is popular today.
It is also simple to put together.
4. Perforated Parapet Walls:
Perforated parapets are substantially more decorative than plain parapets.
These walls have various apertures that were skilfully created for aesthetic purposes.
The intended holes typically have shapes like circles, trefoils, and flowers.
They are difficult to make and keep up with.
5. Stepped parapet walls:
These kinds of walls resemble sloping walls in appearance.
But the entire wall’s lining has stairs like a slow incline.
It presents the wall from a different angle, giving it a beautiful impression.
6. Slope Parapet Walls:
Sloped walls are utilized to offer a slope to the structure to drain water and prevent roof leaks.
Industrial buildings frequently have slope parapets built into them.
Slope parapets are used for additional practical functions rather than just for aesthetics.
7. Bridge Parapet Walls:
As the name of this style of parapet suggests, it is utilized for bridges.
Similar to a panelled parapet is the usual bridge parapet.
It is intended for bridges to prevent falling traffic.
8. Glass parapet walls:
Modern homes would look exquisite with a glass parapet wall.
Instead of using bulky brick or stone barriers, consider using a thin, transparent glass parapet to give your balcony a sleek, contemporary appearance.
The glass terrace parapet wall greatest opens up the inside to the exterior allowing you to gaze out from your balcony without any obstructions.
The glass parapet on this contemporary furnished balcony is very beautiful.
A cosy outdoor atmosphere is created by the wall’s understated basic feature that is complemented by the substantial decorations and lush vegetation.
9. Grill Patterns parapet wall:
Having a finely wrought grill railing on your balcony is the most stunning balcony design idea.
For instance, the parapet wall grill design on this old house adds to its attractiveness and gives it a delicate appearance with its elegant swirls and spirals.
The wrought iron used to construct this parapet wall provides it endurance and strength.
You can create a variety of elaborate shapes and patterns on iron because it is a flexible material, transforming your balcony into a work of art.
10. Steel Grill Parapet Wall:
Stainless steel is another common metal for balcony grills.
Grills made of stainless steel are gorgeous, rust-free, and simple.
They are the ideal choice for contemporary residential and commercial structures because of their understated elegance.
Additionally, you can play around with different colours to create a colourful balcony grill design for parapet walls.
The balcony really stands out because each story has a different brilliant colour.
11. Concrete parapet walls:
Modern home building designs have brought back the use of conventional concrete parapet walls.
Indian homes frequently have white concrete parapet walls, which illustrates the country’s extensive architectural history.
You may give this balcony parapet wall design many different shapes and arrangements, and paint the concrete with vibrant colours that go well with the design of your terrace.
12. Wooden Parapet Walls:
The bulk of wooden parapet walls can be seen in country farmhouses.
The image’s lovely wood parapet wall gives the balcony a touch of cosiness and warmth.
This balcony parapet wall design is a great choice if you want to give your home a rustic, village feel.
You may take in the rural vista from the open wall.
The only negative is that wooden railings are less safe overall since they are less durable than metal railings.
13. Green Parapet Walls:
Urban homeowners are embracing the relatively new idea of green parapet walls to bring nature closer to them.
In order to allow flowers to bloom on green walls, climbing plants or claddings are suspended from existing parapets.
They enhance the look and feel of your walls while also enhancing the local air quality.
Advantages of Parapet Wall:
- It has a distinctive, lovely, and appealing style.
- Accidents like falling over the roof are avoided by parapets.
- Additionally, it stops fire from spreading.
- Windbreak-Buildings with parapet roofs have roof coverings that are not easily blown off or harmed by wind-related structural issues.
Disadvantages of Parapet Wall:
- Where the parapet walls and roof meet, there is a chance of water leakage if capping is not put correctly,
- There is an additional cost associated with parapet walls that protrude from the roof.
- A high level of expertise is needed to complete the building as intended because these walls are built with a 9-inch thickness.
FAQ- Parapet Wall:
Q1. What is the typical parapet height?
A roof parapet railing needs to be at least 42″ tall in order to offer sufficient fall protection.
Q2. What exactly is a parapet roof design?
A parapet is a dwarf wall or heavy railing that surrounds the edge of a roof, balcony, terrace, or stairway with the intention of shielding those inside from outside attack or preventing them from toppling over.
Q3. What is the price of constructing a parapet wall?
The cost per square foot to build a parapet wall typically ranges from $18 to $24 for a simple parapet wall to $28 to $34 for a wall with additional design work or visual appeal components.
Conclusion:
The importance of parapet walls in a building outside façade cannot be overstated.
The architectural style of your building should influence the type of wall design you select.
Get in touch with the design firm if you’re interested in further personalized balcony design ideas or wall designs that go with the decor of your building.
