How to use Coping Stones?

Enhance and Protect Your Walls with Classical Creations Coping Stones

Coping stones are flat stones used to finish the top of a wall, providing both a decorative and functional purpose. 

They protect walls from weather damage, particularly rainfall, by preventing water from penetrating the wall’s structure. 

Coping stones also add a finished look to walls and can enhance the overall aesthetic of a garden or property. 

Functionality:

• Weather Protection: Coping stones act as a barrier against rain, preventing water from seeping into the wall and causing damage like crumbling or weakening.  Failure to do so can result in rapid deterioration of the wall, water-logging, efflorescence and even total collapse.

• Structural Stability: They help bind the wall together, making it more stable and resilient to weather conditions like strong winds. When constructing a long wall in an exposed area consider using additional pillars as both an aesthetic and functional feature. The additional support can be crucial in maintaining a strong and resilient wall.

• Drip Edges: Coping Stones are often designed with a drip edge or channel to direct water away from the wall’s face, further protecting it from the elements.  All of our Coping Stones are supplied with a drip channel placed under both sides to ensure rain water will not run down the face of your wall. Coping must overhang the wall by a minimum of 30mm each side in order for the drip channel to function properly.

Aesthetics and Design:

• Finishing Touch: Coping stones add a clean, finished look to walls, completing the overall design of a garden, patio, or other landscaping project. 

• Variety of Styles: They come in various materials, colours, and shapes, allowing for customisation to match different architectural styles and preferences.  Picking the right style is crucial to get both the correct look and functionality for the wall.

• Versatility: Coping Stones can be used on various types of walls, including garden walls, parapet walls, and even flat roof perimeters.  People also use copings as garden edging and for pools and ponds.

Additional Considerations:

• Installation: Proper installation is crucial for maximising the benefits of coping stones, including correct placement, jointing, and weatherproofing. If you are using Once-Weathered Coping Stones you need to ensure you are fitting them with the correct direction of flow, preferably into a guttering or utilising the drip channel to keep water away from the masonry wall. You can check out our guide on Top Tips for building a garden wall.

• Material Selection: Choosing the right material for coping stones depends on factors like desired aesthetics, durability, and budget.  At Classical Creations we have been manufacturing Pre-Cast Concrete products for the Trade and Public since 1996.  We pride ourselves on our ability to produce high quality, handmade Pier Caps and Coping Stones that reflect our high standards and attention to detail

• Pointing: Proper pointing (filling the joints between coping stones) is essential for weatherproofing and structural integrity.  This also needs to be regularly maintained. Try to inspect your wall after the worst of the Winter weather as good practice.

What type of Coping Stone do I use?

Choosing the perfect copings for your wall is important.  You want them to fit in seamlessly with the rest of your house and the neighbouring properties.  We offer a huge range of cast stone copings with an array of sizes and colours so you can always find the right copings for your wall.

But don’t worry…our experts are at hand!!!

Our team have over 30 years of experience in the business and have helped fit countless copings to just about every type of structure you can imagine! We also currently supply Coping Stones Nationwide through our website to home owners and independent builders, also supplying a number of large local and national builders merchants including Buildbase, MKM, JT Dove, JJ Roofing Supplies and Travis Perkins. We also make Bespoke Coping Stones and have worked on a wide range of projects.

All of this knowledge gives us a great advantage and helps us find the perfect result for you. So don’t be shy, give us a ring on 0191 217 0002, we’d love to hear from you and one of our experts will be at hand to help with any of your questions.

As well as our team of helpful experts we have a huge range of products, styles, sizes and colours to choose from. Meaning there is always something available perfect for your project. You can view our full range of Coping Stones here…

Types of Coping Stones

Flat Coping

The Flat Coping Stones range is a very modern, minimalist style of Coping Stone.

Our Flat Copings are an attractive, effective and affordable solution to protect your masonry.  They suit all property types and are designed to seamlessly match your walling.

Simple yet elegant their flat shape makes them ideal for use on a wall where railings are to be fitted or where sitting is required.  All copings are supplied with a drip channel placed under both sides to ensure rain water will not run down the face of your wall. Coping must overhang the wall by a minimum of 30mm each side in order for the drip channel to function properly.

Chamfered Flat Coping

The Chamfered Flat Coping Stones range is designed to give a more modern contemporary look, while also giving maximum protection to your walls from the weather.

Once-Weathered Coping

Our Once Weathered Coping Stones range is ideal for use on a wall where it is preferable to control the direction of which the rain water will run off.  For example, directing the water towards the guttering on a roof.  The term “Once Weathered” means these copings slope only one way allowing the majority of rainwater to flow mainly off one side of the Coping Stones.

Twice-Weathered Apex Coping

The Twice Weathered Apex Coping Stones range of coping is designed to finish off your wall and protect your brickwork from the weather.  The term “Twice Weathered” refers to the fact that the copings slope both ways allowing the rain water to run off either side, similar to a pitched roof on a house.

Twice Weathered Bevelled Coping

The Twice Weathered Bevelled Coping Stone range is a Deeper, more Ornate version of Coping Stone for your walls. These Coping Stones also have a nice bevelled feature running down either side to help add some character to your wall.

Victorian Coping

Our Victorian Coping Stones range is designed to match the old deep Coping Stones that were used on many a house across the UK in the Victorian era.  Their style has a broad range of uses, from older Terraced Houses to modern Town Houses and old Country Mansions, these Coping Stones are guaranteed to look great.

Because they have a flat top section our Victorian Coping Stones are perfect for fitting railings to, or for use on a wall where sitting is preferable.

Cottage Wall Coping

Our stylish and unique Cottage Wall Copings range is designed to mimic the look of an old Sandstone wall.  These are perfect for old houses with garden walls in the many beautiful rural villages across the UK that wish to maintain the look and feel of the surroundings.

Our Cottage Wall Copings are an attractive, elegant and affordable solution to protect vulnerable areas from the harshest of weather.  They are designed to seamlessly match your walling and compliment your masonry.

Additional Considerations

Once you have your copings in place try using sympathetic plantings to help lessen the effects of the weather on your walls in strategic places, but always take care to ensure to avoid any damage caused by root systems and climbing plants.  Climbing shrubs can make matters worse by harbouring damp, while ivy roots can invade old, soft mortar joints.  Your walls can also create safe havens for delicate plants on the protected side.  For further advice on how to protect your garden from frost damage check out our blog here.

You may want to paint your wall for a colourful finish or additional protection. If you are doing this be careful to use the correct paint. It must be breathable and not trap moisture inside. Also ensure your wall is completely dry, free of dirt and debris.

Railings, lights and cameras. People often fit things to their copings for both aesthetic and security reasons. If you are planning on doing this make sure to carefully consider the type of coping you would require and consult with both our team and your builder.

Drainage and access. When building a completely new wall from scratch you always need to consider the access and adequate drainage. Is there an access cover for pipes, drains or electrical nearby? Are there drainage considerations to take into account?

Wildlife. Finally, many people these days are trying to encourage wildlife in their gardens. With bird and bat boxes, as well as hedgehog houses and even bee bricks. There are plenty of good sites offering advice if this is something you are considering. You may even want to discuss access points with your neighbours for small animals, but always consider if you have pets that could be tempted to try and make a break for it too!