GB2127450A

GB2127450A - Wall coping

Info

Publication number: GB2127450A
Application number: GB08226691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin James Michael Knox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-20
Filing date: 1982-09-20
Publication date: 1984-04-11
Also published as: GB2127450B

Abstract

A half-brick wall coping system comprising a series of lower units 11 and a series of upper units 12. The lower units have a longitudinally extending ridge at 13 and the upper units have a corresponding longitudinally extending recess 16. The upper units and the lower units are connected by a layer of mortar 21, 22 in which a damp proof course 19 is embedded, following the contours of the ridge and recess. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Half-brick wall coping system The present invention relates to a coping system for a half-brick wall, a half-brick wall being one built from a single thickness of bricks laid end to end.

Walls which are built simply from layers of bricks and mortar suffer the problem of moisture seeping down the height of the wall causing degradation. This problem is not alleviated by lining the top of the wall with mortar or plaster nor by providing a top brick layer with a top profile or an overhang.

The inclusion of a damp proof course beneath the top brick layer is not acceptable since this causes a plane of weakness. Thus the top layer tends to be susceptible to being dislodged either accidentally or as a result of vandalism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coping system for a half-brick wall which minimises downward ingress of moisture and in which the top brick layers are firmly located.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a coping system which comprises a top unit and a lower unit, the upper surface of the lower unit and the under surface of the top unit having interlocking profiles, a mortar layer connecting the top and lower units and a layer of waterproof material embedded in the mortar layer, and following the interlocking profiles.

Thus, the waterproof layer minimises downward ingress of moisture, while the interlocking profiles may interrupt any plane of weakness at the waterproof layer.

Preferably the waterproof material is a conventional damp-proof course material in the form of a sheet.

Preferably the interlocking profiles extend longitudinally of the units and preferably comprise a ridge on the lower unit and a corresponding recess in the top unit. Naturally, the dimensions of the ridge and recess would be such as to allow for the mortar layer and waterproof layer.

Furthermore it is desirable that the top of the ridge is at a higher level than the under surface of the top unit.

The preferred arangement has the advantages that the interlocking profile is continuous along the length of the wall, enabling a single length of damp-proof course to be applied to the length of the wall without interruption; the upstanding ridge tends to avoid moisture collecting at the dampproof course, and the positive overlapping of the interlocking profiles of the top and lower units eliminates any plane of weakness.

A further advantage is that this arrangement results in a greater area of mortar contact between the top unit layer and lower unit layer.

This tends to make the wall more vandal-proof.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of forming a coping system for a half-brick wall comprises laying a layer of lower units each having a profiled upper surface, applying a layer of mortar to the upper surfaces, laying a waterproof layer in the mortar following the profiled upper surfaces, and applying a layer of mortar and a layer of top units to the waterproof layer, the top units each having a profiled under surface interlocking with the lower unit profiled upper surfaces.

Preferably, the waterproof layer is applied as a continuous sheet of damp-proof course material which may be accurately dimensioned or may be somewhat oversize and subsequently trimmed to size.

The invention extends to a set of bricks for a half-brick wall coping system comprising a series of lower bricks having a profiled upper surface and a series of top bricks having a correspondingly profiled lower surface arranged to interlock with the lower brick upper surfaces.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and two embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric sketch, partially cut away of a coping system in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is an end sectional view of a second embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the coping system inciudes lower units 11 and top units 12. These are generally the same dimensions as a standard brick, i.e. 215 mm x 103 mm x 65 mm, and are made from the same materials.

Each lower unit 11 has a longitudinal ridge 1 3 which has upwardly inwardly angled sides 14 and a flat top 1 5. The ridge 1 3 extends the whole length of the unit, thus forming a continuous ridge when the units are placed end to end.

Each top unit has a longitudinal groove 1 6 which has upwardly inwardly angled sides 1 7 and a flat top 1 8. The groove 1 6 extends the whole length of the unit thus forming a continuous groove when the units are placed end to end. The dimensions of the ridge 13 and groove 16 allow them to interlock with sufficient clearance for a layer of mortar.

A sheet 1 9 of damp-proof course material is located between the top and lower units 11, 12 following the interlocking contours. The sheet 1 9 is embedded in mortar so that there is a layer of mortar 21 between it and the lower units 11 and a second layer of mortar 22 between it and the top units 12. As can be seen from Figure 1, the top 1 5 of the ridge 1 3 extends into the groove 1 6 beyond the bottom surface of the top units.

The inwardly angled sides 14, 1 7 have a number of advantages over corresponding vertical sides. Firstly, manufacture of the units is made easier since they are more easily removable from their moulds. Secondly, they are stronger. Thirdly, they render precision in erection less critical, and finally, the profile is easier for the damp-proof course sheet to follow.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is similar in all respects to that of Figure 1 except that the ridge 33 of the lower unit 31 and the groove 34 of the top unit 32 have rounded edges and corners as shown at 35, 36, 37 and 38.

The method of erecting these two embodiments is the same. After the third-to-last layer of bricks has been laid (with the bricks overlapping as is standard) a layer of lower units 1 with their ridges 13 facing upwards is laid using mortar in the normal way. A thin layer 21 of mortar is then applied to the top surface and a sheet 1 9 of damp-proof course material is rolled out along the top of the wall, on the mortar layer 21. The sheet 19 is folded to follow the profile of the lower unit upper surfaces and a layer of top units 12 with their grooves 1 6 facing downwards is laid on the sheet 19. The thin layer of mortar 22 between the sheet 1 9 and the layer of top units 12 can either be applied to the sheet 1 9 or the top units 12 themselves.

Claims

1. A half-brick wall coping system which comprises a top unit and a lower unit, the upper surface of the lower unit and the under surface of the top unit having interlocking profiles, a mortar layer connecting the top and lower units and a layer of waterproof material embedded in the mortar layer, and following the interlocking profile.

2. A coping system as claimed in Claim 1 in which the waterproof material is a conventional damp proof course material in the form of a sheet.

3. A coping system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the interlocking profiles extend longitudinally of the units.

4. A coping system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the interlocking profiles comprise a ridge on the lower unit and a recess in the top unit.

5. A coping system as claimed in Claim 4 in which the ridge is at a higher level than the under surface of the top unit.

6. A coping system as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the longitudinal ridge has upwardly inwardly angled sides and a flat top and the recess is of a corresponding shape.

7. A coping system as claimed in Claim 6 in which the ridge and recess have rounded edges and corners.

8. A half-brick wall coping system constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of forming a half-brick wall coping system which comprises laying a layer of lower units, each having a profiled upper surface, applying a layer of mortar to the upper surfaces, laying a waterproof layer in the mortar following the profiled upper surfaces, and applying a layer of mortar and a layer of top units to the waterproof layer, the top units each having a profiled under surface interlocking with the lower unit profiled upper surfaces.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 in which the waterproof layer is applied as a continuous sheet of damp proof course material.

1 A method as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10 in which the upper units and the lower units are staggered in the longitudinal direction.

12. A method of forming a half-brick wall coping system substantially as herein specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.