Coping stones and pier caps provide a matchless finish to a wall. But they're also prone to getting knocked off and damaged.  We look at how to keep them firmly in place.

Bespoke Beige sawn sandstone coping curves around patio by matching apron of grass.
The bespoke curved Beige sawn sandstone coping adds definition to the shape of the patio and offers an inviting place to perch in this project by Cherry Mills Garden Design.

People always sit on or lean against walls. The fact that coping stones and pier caps are exposed means that the weight of a person can be enough to break the bond between the coping/cap and bedding layer. 

This is no reason not to enjoy the benefits of coping stones, though. You just need to ensure you avoid costly damage.

What is bond bridge?

A very simple step to significantly increase the strength and stability of coping stones and pier caps is to use a bond bridge.  A bond bridge is a mixture of SBR (exterior pva) and cement slurry that is painted onto the back of natural stone and porcelain to enhance the adhesion between paving slab and bedding layer.  You can also add a small quantity to the mortar mix.

Blue sack of Larsen priming slurry
Larsen priming slurry, used with SBR, ensures that coping stones, pier caps and dense paving slabs stay in place.

Long-lasting construction

The results are quite staggering and have to be seen to be believed.  When slurry primer and SBR have been properly applied, it's difficult to separate the coping stone or pier cap from the bedding layer without the use of extreme force.  There are even some cases of the actual stone breaking before the bond does.

Steps and raised beds in Florence White porcelain paving, with matching coping stones.
CIJ Landscaping chose Florence White porcelain paving with matching coping with a pencil round edge profile for this garden design.

We also recommend that bond bridge should be used in paving schemes that use dense, low-porosity slabs like granite, slate and porcelain, to ensure slabs don't become loose. 

Adding slurry primer and SBR takes only a little bit more effort and you can get complete peace of mind that the coping stones and pier caps you installed today will still be looking great tomorrow and for years to come.

See our range of coping stones and pier caps for inspiration. And don't forget that we can supply bespoke coping and pier caps for that extra special project.

Post updated: August 2023