Usually used to cap freestanding walls in order to protect them from the weather, but also to provide a visually appealing touch and complement pier caps, wall coping stones can be an important addition. There are, however, a variety of different types of wall coping stones that have been designed to accommodate different requirements.
Here at Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited, we stock a range of wall copings that can help you add the final touch to your walls. We have, therefore, put together a guide to some of the main styles in our latest blog post below.
Saddle or Twice-Weathered
Perhaps the most common, saddle - or twice-weathered - wall coping stones are shaped in a similar way to a hip roof, with the same end goal of maximising water runoff. These wall copings are designed to direct water to either side as they are angled on both sides with a ridge running down the centre.
Usually, these are found on garden walls and balustrading, where it doesn’t matter which direction the runoff goes. They may also have ‘drip grooves’ on the underside of the overhanging section of the coping, which prevent water from dripping onto the wall itself and causing damage.
Saddle wall coping stones can come with a pointed ridge or can be rounded at the top. Either serve the same purpose, so it’s usually an aesthetic decision to opt for one over the other.
Splayed, Wedge, or Once-Weathered
Once-weathered wall coping stones, again, have been designed to direct water in one way or another. In this instance, though, the runoff is most commonly directed from the top of a roof in towards the roof, where there should be an internal gutter that channels water safely away from the walls to protect them.
These can still be applied to external and garden walls, or balustrades, and will work just as effectively at protecting the top of the brickwork and directing water where most appropriate, again with drip grooves to further protect the sides of the wall.
Flat
Flat coping stones are also often found at the top of roofs - generally, gable designs - and protect the brickwork from permeating rainwater. Generally, flat wall coping stones are used less for directing run off but do provide a visual appeal and ‘cap off’ the roof. They can be further personalised to make the most of chamfered edges, and other trimmings, that add an extra dimension to the style that they bring.
Decorative
A final category of wall coping stones are those of the ‘decorative’ ilk. Traditionally, a lot of the coping stones you will see are ‘Romanesque’ and draw inspiration from where wall copings were arguably first found, in the Roman era. However, there is another category, where coping stones provide the same channelling of water but with more emphasis on exuberance and style.
Perhaps harking back to the ‘Perpendicular period’ of Gothic architecture, these copings are common on the roofs of the colleges of Oxford University, for example. You might also be lucky to find a good selection of these at your local salvation yard.
Form and Function
In essence, all types of wall coping stones are functional but also add an aesthetic appeal to walls. They protect the brickwork by channelling water but also add the finishing touch - or icing on the cake - as they can be implemented to your specifications and made from a range of materials, such as stone, concrete, slate, and more.
Discover a Variety of Wall Copings With Cawarden
Here at Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited, we stock a range of reclaimed wall coping that is ideal for suiting every taste - whether you are looking for something Romanesque or from the Perpendicular period. We also even have pillar caps to compliment these stones perfectly.
If you would like to contact us to discuss our products further, please call on 01889 574066 or fill out our simple online contact form and a member of our team will be happy to help.