Coping
A protective capping over the top of a parapet or freestanding wall, shaped to shed water clear of both faces.
On an actual building
Without it, rain enters the exposed wall head directly and travels down inside the parapet, emerging wherever it finds a path — often at the terrace junction.
What we most often have to correct
That painting the top of a parapet is equivalent. Paint is not a capping and does not throw water clear of the faces.
Where this comes up in our work
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Parapet
The low wall around the edge of a terrace or roof..
- Drip Mould
A groove or projecting profile on the underside of a projection that forces water to drip clear rather than run back along the soffit to the wall..
- Fall (Slope)
The deliberate gradient built into a horizontal surface so water runs to the outlets, usually around 1:100 to 1:120 on a terrace..
More building elements terms
Coping — questions we get asked
What does coping mean in waterproofing?
A protective capping over the top of a parapet or freestanding wall, shaped to shed water clear of both faces.
Why does coping matter on a real project?
Without it, rain enters the exposed wall head directly and travels down inside the parapet, emerging wherever it finds a path — often at the terrace junction.
What do people commonly get wrong about coping?
That painting the top of a parapet is equivalent. Paint is not a capping and does not throw water clear of the faces.
Have a building showing this?
If a term on this page describes something you are looking at, a site inspection will tell you how far it has gone and what it needs. It costs nothing.
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