parapet gable

architecture

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A parapet gable is a triangular section of wall at the end of a pitched roof that extends above the roofline, forming a parapet. This architectural feature is designed to keep water out where the walls meet the roof.1

Unlike a standard gable that follows the roof's slope, a parapet gable projects upward. The edge of this extended wall can have various shapes, such as stepped outlines, and is often decorated. These gables can be ornamented with elements like urns, statues, or scrolls, and have been prominent in the traditional architecture of regions like northern and western Europe, as well as East Asia. A parapet itself is a low wall or railing around an edge, serving to prevent falls or provide shelter.123

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gable
…roof level to form a parapet, however, its silhouette may be one of many types—such as the crowstepped, catstepped, or corbiestepped gable—with a stepped outline. The edge of such a parapet is often trimmed to form an ornamental silhouette. In northern and western Europe, where roofs of steep pitch are…
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…roof level to form a parapet, however, its silhouette may be one of many types—such as the crowstepped, catstepped, or corbiestepped gable—with a stepped outline. The edge of such a parapet is often trimmed to form an ornamental silhouette. In northern and western Europe, where roofs of steep pitch are…
Read More