Coping (fromcope, Latincapa) is the capping or covering of awall.[1] Asplayed orwedge coping is one that slopes in a single direction; asaddle coping slopes to either side of a central high point.[2]
Coping may be made of stone,brick, clay orterracotta,concrete orcast stone,tile,slate, wood,thatch, or various metals, includingaluminum,copper,stainless steel,steel, andzinc.[3] Stone coping used in contemporary landscaping is sometimes referred to as a "wall cap" in the US, with the stones referred to as capstones.[4] In the UK coping is distinct from capping in that the former has an overhang with a drip groove, whereas the latter is flush with the face of the wall below. In all cases it should have a weathered (slanted or curved) top surface to throw off the water.[1]
InRomanesque work, copings appeared plain and flat, and projected over the wall with athroating to form a drip. In later work a steep slope was given to the weathering (mainly on the outer side), and began at the top with anastragal; in theDecorated Gothic style there were two or three sets off; and in the laterPerpendicular Gothic these assumed a wavy section, and the copingmouldings continued round the sides, as well as at top and bottom,mitring at the angles, as in many of the colleges at theUniversity of Oxford.[1]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Coping".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 101.