Parapet Wall Rebuilds

Parapet Wall Rebuilds and Restoration Chicago

Here at Chicago Brick Co., we are commonly called upon to rebuild parapet walls which are made from brick. A parapet wall is a low wall that extends above the top of a roof. They are most common on flat roofs.

Parapet walls are exposed on three sides, the top and both sides of the wall, making them prone to damage from water, wind, and exposure. Some of the more common issues we encounter with brick parapet walls include: damaged copings, leaks, efflorescence, broken bonds, dislodged bricks, damaged flashing, crumbling, and brick spalling.

Chicago Brick Co. takes pride in doing each brick repair job correctly from the beginning. It often takes more time in the beginning to diagnose the wall’s point of failure, this is time well spent as our repairs go deeper than cosmetics. If water intrusion due to deteriorated flashing, for example, caused the bricks to crumble, that water intrusion issue will affect the newly rebuilt wall if not addressed at the time of the rebuild.

Whether working on shingle roofs, silver coated roofs, or a commercial roofing project surrounded by a parapet wall, we go into investigative mode before repairing or rebuilding the wall. We want to know what caused the problem in the first place. By identifying the root cause, we can then address it as part of the parapet wall rebuilding project. End result: a comprehensive rebuild that repairs both the symptom and the cause.

If you want your commercial or residential brick parapet wall rebuild to last, Chicago Brick Co. is the first choice for parapet wall rebuilds in Chicago. We do the job correctly from the beginning, and we do it to the highest of standards. Contact us today for a free onsite consultation and estimate.

Parapet wall rebuilds are a common type of brick repair in Chicago. Parapets walls or firewalls are low walls typically located on flat rooftops, balconies, and terraces. As with any type of brick structure, brick parapet walls often require expert help to overcome structural or cosmetic masonry problems.

Due to the way they are constructed and their extreme exposure on three sides, brick parapet walls are vulnerable to any number of issues including:

• Deteriorated copings (metal, limestone, or clay copings located on top of masonry walls to prevent water intrusion)
• Missing, defective, improperly installed, or damaged compression flashing
• Brick spalling, crumbling, or dislodged bricks
• Broken bonds
• Leaks
• Efflorescence

Most parapet wall issues and their resulting brick repairs in Chicago have underlying causes that must be addressed as part of the brick wall repair. For example, an improperly installed or defective coping could be the cause of brick spalling and mortar deterioration. Replacing the brick and performing a mortar repair may restore the damaged area, but unless the coping is also repaired, future problems will occur.

Parapet walls are exposed to the elements on all three sides and lack the dead load of the walls below. This means that not only are parapet brick walls more exposed, they also respond differently to movement than the walls below. Improper construction such as a lack of expansion joints could also be a contributing factor and should be addressed accordingly.

Whether your parapet wall is a crumpled mess or is starting to show signs of efflorescence, brick spalling, mortar issues, brick deterioration, cracks, or leaks, you can count on Chicago Brick Company for comprehensive parapet wall restoration services in Chicago. We approach each job from an investigative point of view to ensure that the underlying cause of the damage is discovered and repaired alongside the parapet brick wall repairs.

Contact us today to schedule an onsite parapet wall rebuild consultation.