Pueblo flat roofs in the village
Along Corrales Road and the side lanes toward the bosque, you'll find real adobe homes that have been re-roofed many times, newer pueblo-style custom homes with several roof levels, and everything in between. They share the same basic roof: nearly flat, hidden behind parapet walls, draining through canales. What's different in Corrales is the trees. Cottonwoods drop leaves, seed fluff and twigs that pile up against parapets and plug canales, and shaded roofs stay damp longer after storms.
Where these roofs leak
- Canales packed with leaves. One clogged canale in a monsoon storm puts water against the parapet in minutes.
- Roof-to-parapet corners. Adobe and frame walls move differently from the roof deck, and the seal cracks.
- Parapet caps. Cracked caps let water into the wall, which is hard on adobe.
- Vigas through the wall. Gaps open as the wood dries, and water follows the viga inside.
- Roof-level transitions. Where a lower roof meets an upper wall on larger homes.
- Old built-up roofs. Many older homes still have tar and gravel under later repairs. See tar and gravel roofs.
How we repair them
- Trace the stain inside back to where the water actually enters, often several feet away.
- Check for wet foam, felt or decking before deciding on the fix.
- Repair the source: corner, cap, canale, viga gap or transition.
- Coat or surface the repair so the sun doesn't break it down.
- Clear the canales and show you photos of what we found.
Protecting adobe walls
On real adobe, keeping water out of the top of the wall matters as much as the roof. Water that gets past a cap soaks in and erodes the adobe from the inside. Caps, canales and the inside face of the parapet get extra attention on these homes. See parapets and canales.
Repair or replace?
If the roof is mostly dry and the leaks come from one or two spots, a repair is the right call. If it's wet underneath across large areas, a new foam or TPO roof is the better investment. See flat roof replacement. In Albuquerque proper? Pueblo Roof Repair Albuquerque covers the city.
Call (505) 448-8495 for a free roof estimate in Corrales.
Roofing questions
How often should canales be cleaned in Corrales?
Before monsoon season and again after the cottonwoods drop their leaves in fall. Homes right under big trees may need more.
Do you repair real adobe homes?
Yes. The repairs focus on keeping water out of the top of the wall as well as the roof.
Can you fix one leak without a new roof?
Usually. If the roof is otherwise sound, we repair the source and tell you if anything else is close to failing.