The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sat Feb 26, 2005 6:42 pm**

My husband and I are in the process hiring various tradesman on our latest project. We aim to build a new 2ft wall at the front of our property spanning a distance of 60ft. The wall will have 8 pilars(4ft tall) with railings inbetween and an electric gate and pedestrian gate too. We have searched high and low for different ideas for the top of the brick work and pillars to match the bricks(dapple light) a pinkish/yellowish colour. So far we have explored the possibilities of using engineering bricks (we only found red and blue) which don't match. Does anyone know of any other colours available? We have also looked at several different companies who make coping stones and matching pillar caps but they are either very expensive(over Â£2000) or if we find the colour we like(coltswold yellow) they don't have pilar caps to match. Has anyone out there any suggestions as to where we maybe able to find reasonably priced matching coping and pilar caps please?
Can i also ask does the coping have to have the grooves in the underside to work or is an overhang sufficient?
I have as an amateur DIY'er found your site fantastic and a mine of information. Thank you.

Posted: **Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:08 am**

Engineering brick do tend to be either red or blue because those are the clays that give the requisite strength, frost resistance and salt content. Off the top of me head, I can't think of a buff or golden engineering brick.

Have you thought of using flagstone as a coping and pier cap? Admittedly, some of the reconstituted stone units can be expensive, but you could use either reclaimed yorkstone or one of the imported sandstones to give you an attractive buffy cotswold tone and a comparatively lower cost.

The drip groove cut into copings and pier caps is not absolutely essential but it's better to have one than not, and given that they can be formed with a basic nangle grinder, there have to be exceptional circs not to use one. Although straightforward overhang can work, keeping all that water off the face of the masonry as much as poss is a better strategy.

The Brew Cabin

New brick wall(coping and pillar caps) - Help and ideas please?