What is Coping in Construction?
In construction, the coping or capping is built on the compound wall, parapet wall, and boundary wall. Coping is provided to avoid the seepage of water into walls during the rainy season. The water gets drained by the slope provided in the coping. Coping also adds to the overall appearance of a building or wall. The slope of 1:20 is provided to drain the water during the rainy season.
Tiles, stones, bricks, clay, terracotta, slate, wood, lean concrete, and various types of metals like aluminum, zinc, stainless steel, copper, and steel are generally used for coping construction. Today, precast coping is also available on the market.
Construction Technique
Coping or capping is constructed over walls of any type. Coping can be provided on a wall in two different ways:
A single-sided slope
A minimum of 1:20 slope is provided on the top of the wall. The slope is directed towards only one side. A minimum of 50 to 100 mm of coping is projected out of the wall, and a semi-circular groove of 10 mm is cut into the projection so that the water doesn’t travel toward the wall (See Fig 1.)
Two-side Slope
A minimum of 1:20 slope is provided on the top of the wall. The slope is directed towards both sides of the wall. A minimum of 50 to 100 mm of coping is projected out of the wall, and a semi-circular groove of 10 mm is cut into the projection on both sides so that the water doesn’t travel toward the wall. (See Fig 2.)
In most preferred cases, the coping and capping arrangement will not be completely watertight, and there might be a chance of water leakage. Therefore, to avoid water penetration into the wall below, a damp-proof course is usually installed beneath the coping/capping. The thickness of the D.P.C should be a minimum of 15 to 25 mm.
Types of Wall Coping based on Materials
- Brick Wall Coping
- Clay Wall Coping
- Terra Cotta Wall Coping
- Concrete (Pre-Cast) Wall Coping
- Concrete (Cast-in-Situ) Wall Coping
- Metal: Aluminum Wall Coping
- Metal: Copper Wall Coping
- Metal: Stainless Steel Wall Coping
- Metal: Zinc Wall Coping
- Stone Wall Coping
