Bricklaying & Repointing

Are my coping stones not wide enough

Anonymous user 9 March 2024 - 3.35 PM

I have a small wall in my back garden, its about 6 bricks high and 1 brick wide (so 39cm high by 22cm wide). The wall was built about 6 years ago and recently some of the bricks on the top layer have came loose (the mortar has crumbled). I spoke to a builder and he said the bricks on the top layer have came loose because of rain water sitting on the wall over time. He has suggested putting twice weathered coping stone over the wall to protect it from rain. I have agreed to this approach and asked him to do the work. The only thing that I'm a bit unsure about is the coping stone that he has ordered. Its 60cm long by 23cm wide, which means there is only a 5mm overhang on either side when you place the coping stone on the wall (from what I have read online it should be at least a 35mm overhang on either side). We placed the coping stone on the wall and when it has rained some of the water has gone down the side of the wall in streaks (after running of the coping stone). The builder said that's fine, the main thing is the rain water is no longer sitting on the top of the wall on mortar joins between bricks. The fact that it runs down the wall in places isn't an issue as it's going down and not sitting on the mortar. Should I be worried? Should I ask the builder to remove the coping and fit wider coping or should what he has done be fine? I just want the wall to last for years without worrying about bricks coming loose. Please note it's a garden wall and not attached to the house.