Aluminium wall coping is a great way to protect your house’s structure from weather damage. It is a highly durable and flexible material that can be customised to match your personal taste. In this blog you will find out more about how aluminium wall coping can benefit your home.
So, what is the purpose of aluminium wall coping? Aluminium wall coping is a thin strip of material attached to the top of a wall that directs the flow of rainwater away from the building. This prevents leakage, structural damage and ruined aesthetic of the building materials. Although damage can vary depending on the original materials used, wall coping is a requirement for all walls.
Read on to learn more about how wall coping can benefit your property.
What is Aluminium Wall Coping used for?
Wall coping is used to provide a channel for rainwater, preventing leaks through the house’s structure into the interior of the building. Although there are a number of different material options for wall coping, aluminium is strongly recommended as it provides more durability, versatility and strength than other materials such as wood, stone and brick.
Typically slanted or curved, coping is a thin strip of a material that finishes the top of a wall. Due to the acidity of rainwater, it can cause building materials to dissolve over time. Wall coping adds a layer of protection around the materials to prevent damage from all weather conditions.
When water penetrates building walls, it can cause a white discolouration due to mineral salts being dissolved, also known as efflorescence. Although this is harmless to the materials themselves and won’t make your building’s structure less stable, it negatively affects the aesthetic of your property.
In colder climates, the water that enters the wall may freeze, largely expanding in the process. This is a danger to the building’s materials and overall structure as it can lead to cracks and create gaps in the material, which in turn lets in more water. The type of materials used in the building can have varying amounts of damage, however coping is a requirement for all types of wall to prevent leakage.
What are the Benefits of Aluminium Wall Coping?
Aluminium has a myriad of benefits that make it stand out against other available materials for wall coping. It is widely considered the strongest material for wall coping. These benefits include:
Durability
Aluminium coping provides a level of durability that is unmatched by other available materials due to its natural corrosion resistance properties and strength. Oxidation positively affects aluminium as it adds an extra layer of protection when exposed to oxygen, expanding lifespan even further. As a completely recyclable material, aluminium does not have any significant impact on the environment and keeps all of its original properties upon recycling.
Lightweight
As it is one of the lightest materials on the market, aluminium is well known for its versatility and ease of installation, even helping to save on costs for transportation to projects. The reduced weight means that not a lot of pressure is applied to the wall when added as coping while still providing excellent insulation and protection.
Easy Installation
As mentioned above, aluminium is lightweight and highly flexible, easy to mould and install. Once installed, it requires minimal maintenance to keep clean and in good condition to continue protecting your property against the elements. Aluminium is usually cut and shaped before it reaches the installation site, speeding up the process significantly.
Unique Aesthetic
Aluminium’s non corrosive properties mean that it will not rust when exposed to the elements, ensuring your ideal aesthetic remains intact. The versatility of aluminium allows for flexibility in the design of the wall coping, meaning it can be customised for your personal tastes and matches the overall aesthetic of your home. This includes the colouring and finish which have a large variety of different kinds available.
Safety
Adding aluminium coping onto your walls will provide extra insulation, keeping your home warmer during the winter months, and reducing your energy bills. It is a non combustible material that helps protect your home against the spread of fire. Due to the strength and durability of aluminium coping it makes it harder for vandals to break into your home.
How Long Should Aluminium Wall Coping Last?
Built to last, aluminium wall coping can last upwards of 40 years with very little maintenance required to keep it looking good. It is affected by oxygen in the air positively, creating a stronger protective layer that extends the longevity.
Adding a finish to the aluminium will also increase the lifespan of the material for a longer period of time and reduce the number of times it needs to be repainted. Some cleaning is necessary to keep the wall coping looking fresh and although unlikely, you should check for any signs of weather damage. Plants that climb as they grow can affect your wall coping by harbouring dampness or growing too high.
Aluminium Wall Coping at Kladworx
At Kladworx, we believe that aluminium wall coping is the ideal choice to protect your home. We can offer technical information on each of our high quality materials and provide advice to suit your individual requirements. Our desire is to build a family business of quality, sustainability and trust with our customer base.
For our aluminium wall coping expertise, contact a member of our team today or call us on 0208 066 4197.
