What Are Canales, Vigas and Parapets? Roof Care for Adobe-Style Homes in Corrales
Corrales is home to one of the best-known adobe houses near Albuquerque, and adobe-style roofs use parts with Spanish names that most roofing guides never mention. Here is what each part does and why it needs attention.
1. A Local Example: Casa San Ysidro
Casa San Ysidro, at 973 Old Church Road in Corrales, is a historic house museum run by the Albuquerque Museum with the Village of Corrales. Its core is a Territorial-period rancho built around 1875 by Jesús MarÃa Gutiérrez, and later owners added hand-built adobe rooms around a courtyard (Albuquerque Museum).
2. Canales: The Roof’s Drains
The Albuquerque Museum describes canales as wooden water spouts that let rain drain away from the roof of an adobe building, and notes some are lined with metal to help water flow (Albuquerque Museum). Because the roof is flat, canales carry the water off. A cracked liner, a loose seal or a clog keeps water on the roof.
3. Vigas: Beams That Pass Through the Wall
Vigas are long wood poles that support the roof of an adobe house, and they often stick out through the wall (Albuquerque Museum). Where a viga passes through the wall is a joint, so it is worth checking the wall surface around exposed viga ends.
4. Parapets: The Low Wall Around the Roof
A parapet is a low wall along the edge of an adobe roof (Albuquerque Museum). The line where the flat roof meets the parapet is a joint that relies on flashing, and the top of the parapet needs a sound cap so water does not soak down into the wall.
5. Why These Roofs Need Regular Checks
A roofer interviewed by KOB 4 said flat roofs leak more often than pitched roofs, and that leaks often show up around the canals. The same report recommends keeping drains and canals clear before monsoon season (KOB 4).
6. Simple Checks for Corrales Homeowners
- After wind or storms, look for debris blocking canales.
- Watch for stains on interior walls below canales and viga ends.
- Look for cracks along the top of parapet walls.
- Have the roof-to-parapet joint inspected at least once a year.
Roof Care for Corrales Adobe-Style Homes
We work on flat and adobe-style roofs in Corrales. Learn about our flat roof services and roof repair, or call (505) 477-4936.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are canales?
Wooden water spouts that drain rain from the flat roof of an adobe building, sometimes lined with metal (source).
What are vigas?
Long wood poles that support the roof of an adobe house and often stick out of the wall (source).
What is a parapet?
A low protective wall along the edge of an adobe roof (source).
