Designers want their dreams and buildings to look pretty, owners don’t want leaks and contractors want to do what they know works. This leads to confusion, arguments, finger pointing and since everyone is reluctant to change, and everyone wants to avoid litigation. The person with the most power or persuasive argument usually wins out. This article is an attempt to help in the decision process and assist those that decide cement stucco on the parapet is worth the effort.
Cement stucco buildings that have no overhangs can present real challenges. The overhang, as with any building, provides protection against moisture, in particular moisture that falls from the sky, namely rain. Most would agree that to have cement stucco parapets on your building is simply inviting trouble. Let’s face it, no overhang, are you crazy? But stucco lends itself to the look of no overhang, whether it is a modern-style building or classic southwestern hacienda, that stucco parapet looks nice, and why ruin it with a metal cap? And so the argument ensues.