What is a donkey-back coping?
A donkey-back coping is a wall capping or roof finish with two sloped surfaces meeting at a sharp ridge. The shape recalls the spine of a donkey — a flat coping would not keep the wall dry.
Form
The donkey-back consists of two small “roof” surfaces with slopes of 30 to 60 degrees, meeting at a sharp ridge. Rainwater runs off both sides quickly.
| Part | Function |
|---|---|
| Ridge / spine | The sharp top edge |
| Sloped sides | Two surfaces sloping to each side |
| Underside | Often finished with a drip edge |
Application
The donkey-back is used mainly to cap freestanding walls:
Garden walls
For garden walls a donkey-back coping is common because:
- Rainwater runs off quickly — no puddles on the wall
- No frost damage — water cannot freeze on top
- Decorative — gives a playful finish
- Materials — brick, roof tile, stone, zinc
Orchards and castle walls
Historically donkey-back walls were used for:
- Orchards — fruit could be trained against the wall
- Castle walls — to deter climbing
- Cemeteries — as a monumental enclosure
- Boundary walls — to finish a partition decoratively
Brick execution
A traditional brick donkey-back coping is built with:
- Base — two header courses
- Sloped capping — tiles or bricks set on edge
- Ridge tile — sometimes a special ridge piece over the top
- Protection — lead flashing or zinc cap for waterproofing
Other meanings
In construction the term “donkey-back” can also mean:
- Roof shape — a small ridge roof in vernacular architecture
- Bridge — see donkey-back bridge
- Tile profile — a window sill tile with sloped face
- Joint profile — a convex pointing detail
Difference from other copings
- Flat coping — horizontal, less water shedding
- Lean-to coping — sloped in one direction only
- Donkey-back coping — sloped in two directions
- Bishop’s mitre — multi-faced, often three-dimensional
Maintenance
A wall with donkey-back capping stays relatively dry, but watch for:
- Moss growth in the joints
- Lead flashings — check for splits
- Pointing — replace if soft
- Frost damage — inspect after harsh winters
Related terms
- Ogee arch
- Donkey-back bridge
- Wall coping
- Bishop’s mitre
- Garden wall
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.