Roof Coating in Corrales, NM

Corrales has held on to its rural, adobe character. Many homes are true adobe or built in the pueblo and territorial styles, with flat roofs behind parapet walls and canales to carry the water off. Over the decades, a lot of those roofs have been covered with sprayed foam and a protective coating.

That kind of roof works well here, but it needs two things: a coating that's kept up, and canales that stay clear. Under the cottonwoods that line the village, the second one takes real attention. A clogged canale during a summer storm can put water behind a parapet and into the house in minutes.

Easy checks

• Is the roof still white, or gray and chalky?
• Any tan foam showing?
• Are canales clear of leaves and fluff?
• Cracks along the tops of the parapets?
• Stains under canales or on inside walls?

The adobe difference

On a true adobe, the parapets matter as much as the roof. Water in the top of the wall is the enemy. See caring for adobe parapets.

More than one roof

Casitas, studios, portals and barns all count. We look at them all. See casitas and portals.

Cottonwood season

Fluff in spring, leaves in fall. A simple cleaning plan prevents most leaks. See cottonwood season.

Choosing a coating

Acrylic for roofs that drain, silicone where water sits. See elastomeric and silicone.