GB2028397A

GB2028397A - Copings in Block Walls

Info

Publication number: GB2028397A
Application number: GB7924411A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ibstock Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Ibstock Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 1978-08-17
Filing date: 1979-07-12
Publication date: 1980-03-05
Also published as: GB2028397B

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved form of coping block forming the top course of a masonry wall involving the steps of placing upon the final course of the main portion (2) of the wall a further course of shaped building components (6) arranged to span the width of the wall, said shaped components having a longitudinal groove or recess (8) in an upper surface thereof, partially embedding a bridging component (12) in said groove or recess of each shaped component (6) so as to project both above said shaped component and longitudinally beyond it into the groove or recess of the adjacent component, and placing over each shaped component a second shaped component (14) having a groove or recess (8) in a lower surface thereof to receive that portion of the bridging component projecting above the first mentioned shaped components (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building Components The invention relates to building components.

In particular, the invention is concerned with an improved form of coping block for use in forming the top course of a masonry wall.

In the assembly of, for example, bricks in the construction of a brick wall, it is necessary to minimise the seepage of water through the gaps between the bricks, which gaps are normaliy filled or substantially filled with mortar. To prevent this seepage, a course of coping bricks may be laid as the top course of the wall, often together with an impermeable membrane known as a damp-proof course. These coping elements may comprise standard bricks laid transversely on the wall or special bricks having a round or sloping profile the better to allow run-off of water. However, seepage can occur between the coping bricks and through or round the damp proof course, particularly in the case of a cavity wall, causing numerous problems attributable to dampness.

Moreover, a coping course is normally fairly easy to dislodge, either through the effects of weathering on mortar present or through vandalism. The result will be, in addition, unsightly and may, if the wall is a high one, present danger from falling bricks.

The present invention therefore provides a method of forming a top course arrangement of building components in a wall or similar assembly comprising constructing a main portion of the wall in any suitable manner, placing upon the final course of the main portion of the wall a further course of shaped building components arranged to span the width of the wall, said shaped components having a longitudinal groove or recess in an upper surface thereof, partially embedding a bridging component in said groove or recess of each shaped component so as to project both above said shaped component and longitudinally beyond it into the groove or recess of the adjacent component, and placing over each shaped component a second shaped component having a groove or recess in a lower surface thereof to receive that portion of the bridging component projecting above the first mentioned shaped components.

Advantageously the grooves or recesses in the shaped components are rectangular in crosssection and when first and second components are laid together, the resulting passageway corresponds to the width and depth of a standard brick including the thickness of the necessary mortar joint. Thus the bridging component may be conveniently a standard brick. Such a brick may, if desired, conveniently be a reject because of a colour or texture fault, as these visual faults are unimportant since the brick is completely enclosed by the shaped building components.

Advantageously flexible damp-proof material may be inserted between the first and second shaped building components so as to lie under or over the bridging component. Additional dampproof material may be provided as circumstances dictate.

There will now be described in detail two examples of the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

in the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a portion of coping courses of a brick wall; Figure 2 is cross-sectional view of the wall shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the wall of Figures 1 and 2, showing decorative modification; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second example of a wall according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a wall having a main portion comprising standard bricks 2 arranged to provide a cavity 4 between an outer and an inner leaf of the wall.

Arranged so as to span the cavity 4 is a shaped component 6 comprising a rectangular brick of larger than standard overall dimensions. In the present example, the longitudinal dimension of each component 6 is the same as the length of a standard brick.

Each component 6 is formed with a groove or recess 8 running longitudinally thereof with respect to the wall. The components are laid so that this groove or recess is in the uppermost surface. Thus the grooves or recesses 8 form a continuous channel into which is laid flexible damp-proof sheet material 10 (Figure 2).

A row of standard bricks 1 2 is then mortared into the channel formed by the grooves or recesses 8 so that each brick projects both above a component 6 and beyond the component in a longitudinal direction so as partially to be received in the groove or recess 8 of the adjacent component 6. These bricks, which may be visually substandard, thus form bridging components.

A course of second shaped components 14 is then placed on top of the components 6. These components 14 are in the present example identical with the components 6 but are laid with their grooves or recesses 8' facing downwardly to enclose the projecting portions of the bricks 12.

However, the crosssectional profile of the components 14 may be varied from rectangular, if desired, for example, to have sloping surfaces as shown in broken lines at 14'.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the wall courses.

The components 6 and 14 are here shown with decorative external grooves 1 6 which are filled with mortar to give the appearance of the use of three bricks of conventional size instead of a single shaped component.

However, it may be desirable that the overall appearance of the finished wall is conventional and therefore Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the dimensions and groovings are chosen to achieve this aim.

The wall of Figure 4 therefore comprises standard bricks 22 laid conventionally in a noncavity arrangement and a shaped component 26.

This component 26 has a height equal to that of two standard bricks with an intervening layer of mortar and has a groove or recess 28 of dimensions suitable to accept as a bridging component a standard brick 30 laid on its long side. On top of that is laid a second shaped component 32, shown in full lines. Alternative cross-sectional profiles are shown at 32', 32" and 32"' in broken lines. The component 32 has a groove or recess 34 in its under surface complementing the groove or recess 28.

Decorative external grooves 36 are formed in outside, that is, visible, surfaces of the components 26 and 32 to simulate the appearance of conventional bricks arranged in a pattern to match that of the arrangement of the bricks 22. When these grooves 36 are pointed with mortar, the visual effect approximates to that of a conventional wall with a conventional coping course.

Claims

1. A method of forming a top course arrangement of building components in a wall or similar assembly comprising constructing a main portion of the tall in any suitable manner, placing upon-the final course of the main portion of the wall a further course of shaped building components arranged to span the width of the wall, said shaped components having a longitudinal groove or recess in an upper surface thereof, partially embedding a bridging component in said groove or recess of each shaped component so as to project both above said shaped component and longitudinally beyond it into the groove or recess of the adjacent component, and placing over each shaped component a second shaped component having a groove or recess in a lower surface thereof to receive that portion of the bridging component projecting above the first mentioned shaped components.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said grooves or recesses in the shaped componnts are rectangular in cross-section.

3. A method according to either one of claim 1 and 2 wherein the bridging components are partially embedded in the grooves or recess of the first course of shaped components to a level approximately half af their vertical thickness, the remaining thickness of the brick being received in the second course, and mortar fillets provided between the confronting surfaces of the shaped components.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bridging component is a standard brick.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein flexible damp-proof material is inserted between the courses of first and second components, so as to lie transversely of thxe bridging component.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second shaped components are profiled to give a non-rectangular cross-section.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shaped components have grooves provided on their external surfaces visible in use into which mortar is pressed to simulate a mortar bond between a plurality of part-components.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the mortar-f lled grooves are arranged to simulate the mortar fillets between the conventional components of the main portion of the wall.

9. A method of forming a top course arrangement of building components in a wall or similar assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.