8 Creative and Secure Border Parapet Wall Designs for Safety and Style

Parapet Wall Designs

Parapet walls are built on the edges of stairways, balconies, roofs, and terraces to prevent people from falling over. It also protects the pre-built and top structures from degradation and corrosion. These walls could be constructed either with an aesthetic appeal (like perforated parapet walls) or just to function for their basic purpose (like plain parapet walls).

Check out these 6 parapet wall designs that your dream house can have!

8 Modern Parapet Wall Designs That You Could Replicate!

1. Plain

8 Creative and Secure Border Parapet Wall Designs for Safety and Style 1

Plain parapet wall designs are an extension of the main wall of the building. They don’t contain any structures or designs and have no aesthetic value unless you paint a mural on them maybe. It has benefits like being sturdy, holding safety, and privacy. Since they have no designs in their structure (just a plain block of a wall), they are easy to maintain and construct. Also, for better structural load-bearing ability add copping and corbel to it.

2. Crenellation or Embattled

Crenellation or Embattled Parapet Wall Designs

These parapet wall designs have square notches alternating throughout their top length. These notches are also called crenels and were intended for archers back in the ancient days. Archers would aim from these notches and hide behind the square adjacent to it. The Great Wall of China is the best specimen of a crenellation or an embattled wall. Nowadays, these walls are built to give structures a royal or imperial touch.

3. Perforated

Perforated Parapet Wall Designs

Perforated parapet wall designs have aesthetically designed perforations on them like flowers, trefoils, and circles. These can be built by inserting separate embedments or from the masonry wall itself. These were usually built in the palace terraces back when palaces were common.

4. Sloped

Sloped Parapet Wall Designs

Sloped parapet wall designs are constructed as an extension of the roof to drain rainwater and prevent water leakage. You will find these in industrial buildings like warehouses or factories. The main aim is purpose and benefit rather than aesthetics.

5. Stepped

Stepped Parapet Wall Designs

Stepped parapet wall designs are similar to sloped parapet walls but with a different view and an aesthetic appeal to them. The walls have a peak with steps on both sloping sides.

6. Paneled

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Paneled parapet wall designs are an old fashion, more specifically the product of the Gothic period in English literature. Patrons had specific requests made for these paneled parapet walls. It doesn’t cost much and is super easy to construct. These are quite similar to plain parapet walls given that they have no designs in their structure.

7. Brick

The contemporary home is enhanced by this style of architecture, which brings personality to it. The use of modern brick parapet walls not only offers visual appeal but also ensures durability. The brick parapet design showcases an appealing brick border that is separated from the main wall by a metal or stone strip. Consider incorporating these brick parapet designs, along with India-inspired main gate pillar tiles, to give your home a distinct and special appearance.

8. Grilled

A grill design is a highly popular and visually appealing choice for constructing low-cost parapets. The terms “grill design” and “parapet grill design” are interchangeable. These parapets, typically made of durable wrought iron, serve as a safety measure to prevent accidental falls.

The use of wrought iron ensures the parapet’s strength and longevity while adding to the aesthetic appeal of the building’s exterior. Whether used for residential or commercial purposes, caution should be exercised as the gaps in the grill can pose a risk if people are not careful. Hence, it is crucial to keep individuals away from areas featuring a grill design if you opt to incorporate it into your building.

The Bottom Line: Pros and Cons of Modern Parapet Wall Designs

Parapet walls are constructed to prevent people from falling over stairways, terraces, and such open spaces. They are typically an extension of the building wall or an extension of the roof. They stand to have certain advantages and disadvantages as mentioned below:

Pros:

  • Parapet wall designs prevent people from falling over and give a sense of privacy in open spaces.
  • They prevent dusty wind from contaminating the protected area.
  • They also act as a cover for machinery or equipment like water pipes.

Cons:

  • Parapet walls must be capped at the edge where it meets the roof. In case of a faulty capping, water could leak into the walls.
  • Parapet walls must have a thickness of 9 inches.
  • Modern parapet wall designs can be customized and such customizations can be costly.

Parapet Wall Designs FAQs

1. What is the minimum height of a parapet wall?

The parapet wall height is around 30 inches above the roof's surface. If the roof is sloping over the exterior wall then the parapet wall height increases but depends on the slope.

2. What is the purpose of a parapet?

Parapet walls are designed to prevent something behind them from falling over. It is also built to shelter something from being attacked.

3. What is the width of the parapet wall?

A parapet wall’s width usually is 9 inches or 225 mm. It could be constructed with 4 inch block walls too.

4. Is a parapet wall load-bearing?

No, these are non-load-bearing walls. Parapet wall designs are free-standing walls that extend upwards from the roof line.

5. Does the parapet need insulation?

Insulation layers must continue in the exteriors of the wall, right across the parapet. This ensures that the internet energy performance is achieved and prevents moisture condensation.
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