Brick walls - info/how to

ste_bla

ste_bla

ste_bla

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Odd thread maybe however;

Looking to take down a small "wall" of placed stones which hold back/supports our garden. Its only about a foot high but wish to move it and make it a bit straighter. Was going to re use the old stones (without mortar) but the misses now says she would like bricks.

So now I need some advice, it will only be about 4 bricks high (compared to standard house bricks) however;

1) what sort of foundation/rubble do I need underneath?

2) are there special bricks I should use (wider than house ones?)?

3) do I need some sort of barrier (rubber?) between the earth and bricks?

4) what do I "top" it off with?

5) Brick laying kits, now I prob wont be good but want to DIY it as it shouldn't be that hard however I have seen kits for ~£30 that you lay on top of the brick to give the right level of mortar are this any good?

Any tips/help/websites would be good.

Cheers steve!
 
1) If the wall is permanent then you want concrete down to get a good flat surface.

2) Normal house bricks should be fine unless your going for decoration.

3) Just an even layer of mortar should do the trick.

4) you can either top it off with bricks in stages to make it look nice,otherwise maybe try some pyramid brick type things to cover the brick.

5) If you watch an advertisment channel,they demonstrate that exact bricky tool,if you have no experience in brick laying then that tool will do you nicely.
 
that looks like a great tool and I watched that advert about 3 times in one sitting before I could be 'bothered' to change the channel.

But, if you look at the start for about 5 secs it shows you his prototype - made out of some 12 mm thick ply - if it's a one off just make one out of some 12mm thick ply yourself?

The main benefit is not the ease of building the wall, it's the fact it has a masking effect and allows you to slurp and splatter the mortar about with out getting it all over the bricks/place/you/ground, which like with any wet trade is where the pros make it look so effortless.

And like painting, 90% of the work of bricklaying is in the prep and the first bricks layed down... as all the rest follows on top :)
 
you should put a membrane between the bricks and soil.
normal dpm should do it (approx 1200 guage polythene)
because the garden will be higher than the lower section you could also
put some weep holes in to let any water escape from the high bit.
it may get a little soggy up there.
if you dont install a membrane then i recommend using class B engineering bricks or a semi engineering one cos eventually after the wall has been soaking for a long time the faces will eventually start to 'corrode'.
you'll probably also have problems with salt coming out of the bricks

jobe
 
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