Learn more about how to design a garden wall.

How to create a garden wall?

Any wall above one metre height beside a public road or two metres high free-standing requires planning permission. For a robust and sturdy garden wall, the foundations should not be deeper than 30cm (12 inch). A raised bed with plants at the foot of an unsightly wall may help hide it. Garden walls may hold back soil to create a terraced area or prevent a steeply sloping bank from falling. Building rules do not apply to fences, walls, or gates. Despite the lack of building regulations, the structures must be sturdy and well-maintained. Natural stone is by far the most expensive option, with prices varied by region. The materials used to create your house, as well as the materials used in nearby buildings and walls, are other factors to consider. If you select a design, be sure you have the proper mortar on available. To build a brick building, you'll need to practice cutting bricks.

Measure the brick with a ruler and mark the cutting line on all four sides with a pencil. Score the line all the way around the brick with a gently pounded bolster with a club hammer. Then, with the indentation (or 'frog') side down, hit it hard enough to fully cut through it. Mortar is the glue that binds a wall's bricks or stones together. General use mortars include soft sand, lime, cement, and water. The employment of queen closers on alternate courses to stagger the joints A double-skin wall requires 120 bricks per square meter of floor area. Making a Mortar and Pestle is tough, but there are several tricks. Keep your bricks and mortar dry until you're ready to utilize them. It's critical not to dry cement or concrete on your tools. When mixing mortar by hand or with a cement mixer, use protective goggles, gloves, and a face mask. If using a mixer, combine the sand and lime before adding additional water. Mix everything until it's smooth. If the mortar holds its shape, it's the right consistency. Remove the sand from the mixer if it was used in the mixing operation.

An beautiful brick or stone garden wall is more costly than a fence, but it will endure for generations and will look good in all weather conditions. Planning approval is required for any wall that is more than one metre high on the side of a public roadway and for any free-standing wall that is more than two metres high. The specifications of a structural engineer are likely to be required for big retaining walls, but you shouldn't be trying them without some previous experience working on less ambitious construction projects in the first place. Although the methods for constructing a wall are quite simple, if you want your wall to be strong and sturdy, you'll need to plan and design it correctly in order for it to be effective. To a great degree, the design of your wall will be determined by what you want to use it for.

What materials can I use to build a garden wall?

You may construct a garden wall out of bricks, natural stone, or reconstituted stone, among other materials. The market offers a diverse selection of reconstituted stone, which is composed of concrete blocks that have been polished and colored to resemble natural stone.

When it comes to painting a garden wall, what is the best color to use?

As an alternative, rich, deep tones such as peacock green and purple, as well as dark red and egg yolk yellow, may be used to compliment leafy plants and pale-hued blooms. These colors attract the attention in the same way that dazzling diamonds do, and they work best when utilized as focal points.

What is the best way to conceal my garden wall?

A raised bed with plants at the foot of an unattractive wall may assist to conceal the wall behind it. This technique is suitable for medium-sized gardens that have the necessary area to accommodate a raised bed. The kind of plants you put against the wall will be the most significant choice you make. Choose plants that will thrive in the microclimate created by your wall face.

What should the depth of the foundations be for a garden wall?

Start excavating at the lowest point and work your way down until you reach solid ground. In order to construct a simple garden wall, a trench no deeper than 30 cm (12 inch) deep should be adequate provided that the soil is solid and properly drained. The depth should be 46 cm (18 inch) deep on unstable or weak ground, though.

Is it necessary to get construction permits for a garden wall?

Fences, walls, and gates do not need permission from the building regulations. Despite the fact that construction codes are not applicable, the buildings must be structurally solid and well-maintained. A planning expert may be able to assist you in ensuring that your garden project runs well.

Is it permissible for me to construct a wall around my garden?

If you wish to erect or modify a fence, wall, or gate in the following circumstances: the fence, wall, or gate, or any other boundary, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its grounds; the fence, wall, or gate, or any other boundary, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its grounds

The many purposes of a garden wall are as follows:

Garden walls may be used for a variety of purposes, including the following: Holding back dirt so that you may build a terraced area or prevent a steeply sloping bank from collapsing are two examples of earth retaining techniques. Putting up a concrete barrier adjacent to a road or sidewalk to decrease noise or provide seclusion is a common practice. To separate a garden into various sections, or to offer additional sitting around a feature such as a terrace or a pond, you may use a pergola. You may use it to create a low, sturdy foundation on which you can install fence or construct piers to support an overhead structure like as a pergola.

Decorative garden walls come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

You may construct a garden wall out of bricks, natural stone, or reconstituted stone, among other materials. The market offers a diverse selection of reconstituted stone, which is composed of concrete blocks that have been polished and colored to resemble natural stone.

Walls made of brick

Bricks are the most affordable building material, and they are available in a variety of colors based on the kind of clay used in their production and the manufacturing method. They may also be multi-colored or mottled, and they can have a rough or smooth texture depending on the manufacturer. However, second-hand bricks typically have a worn appearance that fits in with ancient home walls, but they are not inexpensive - and there is often no way to determine whether they are frost-resistant prior to purchasing them.

Natural stone walls are a beautiful sight to see.

Natural stone may be purchased from quarries or reclaimed stone yards, but it is very costly. Random rubble, often known as undressed stone, is the kind of stone that you may purchase in its natural form. Semi-dressed stone is cut into blocks with uneven surfaces that are rather consistent in size, while fully-dressed stone with machine-cut faces is referred to as Ashlar. The semi-dressed stone used in the construction of this wall is seen here.

Stone walls that are semi-dry

A true dry-stone wall is constructed from stones that have been meticulously selected so that they are completely sturdy and do not need the use of cement to hold them together. This wall is made of semi-dry stone, which makes it seem rustic. It has the appearance of a genuine dry-stone wall, but it contains mortar joints that are not visible.

Walls with a dry-stone appearance

These walls are constructed from reconstituted stone blocks, which allow you to achieve the appearance of a dry-stone wall at a fraction of the cost of the genuine thing.

Materials for construction of walls

Only the beginning of the procedure involves deciding on the kind of material to use for your garden wall. A brick wall requires you to choose a pattern (also known as a 'bond') before you can begin construction. And, whatever of the material you select, you'll need to make sure you have an appropriate mortar on hand.

What to Look for When Choosing Your Walling Materials

There are a few factors you should consider while choosing on the kind of materials to utilize for your garden wall, and they are as follows. The materials from which your home is constructed - as well as the materials from which other buildings and walls in the local area - Your financial situation. Natural stone is by far the most costly choice, with costs varying from one area to another. Natural stone is available in a variety of colors and textures. The degree of dressing that the stone has undergone is also reflected in the price - perfectly-cut stone costs more than poorly-dressed stone. The price of ashlar stone is higher than the price of bare stone. To estimate a preliminary cost, assume that 1 tonne of stone will produce about 3.3 square meters of completed stonework. But keep in mind that this is an estimate since each stone is unique in terms of size and weight. When constructing a wall out of bricks, precision is essential since bricks are less forgiving than natural stone in their construction. However, after you've learned the fundamental methods, you'll discover that brick-laying is far more efficient than stone-laying. Reconstituted stone is quite simple to place and is not prohibitively costly. Because the stones are available in a variety of sizes, you may estimate the number of stones you'll need by dividing the area of walling by the dimensions of the blocks you want to use in your project.

Bricks are carved in a variety of ways.

You'll need to practice cutting bricks if you're going to construct any sort of brick structure. However, although it is not exactly as simple as a skilled bricklayer makes it seem, you shouldn't have too much difficulty learning how to do it. With a ruler, measure the brick and draw a pencil line on all four sides of the brick to indicate where the cutting line will be. Using a club hammer, score along the cutting line all the way around the brick with a bolster that has been softly tapped down. Then, with the indentation (or 'frog') side down, put it on grass or sand and strike it with the bolster hard enough to cut through it completely. When cutting bricks or blocks, always use safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris.

There are many different types of bonds used in brickwork.

An ordinary brick wall is constructed by laying down layers of bricks (referred to as 'courses') and cementing them together with mortar. The 'bond' refers to the manner in which the bricks are laid out when they are constructed. With a bond, you may space vertical mortar joints so that they do not appear in the same location on two or more consecutive courses. As a result, the weight on the wall is distributed across its whole length, making it stronger and more stable. Stretcher bonds, English bonds, and Flemish bonds are the three kinds of bonds that are most often used to construct garden walls. When calculating the number of bricks you'll need for a certain bond, remember to factor in an additional 5% to account for breakages and bricks that have been cut in half.

Bond in the English language

This pattern may be created by placing alternating courses of stretchers and headers on the floor. Insert queen closers before the final header to ensure that the joints at the ends of your wall and at right-angled corners are staggered at all times. Per square metre of floor space, you'll need about 120 bricks.

The bond of the Flemish

At the start of each course, headers and pairs of parallel stretchers alternate to form a double-skin wall. To stagger the joints, alternating the use of queen closers on alternate courses. You'll need about 120 bricks per square meter of floor space.

Stretcher bonding is a kind of bonding that is used to stretch a piece of fabric.

This kind of bond should be used for single-skin walls that are the thickness of a single brick, as well as for double-skin walls that are connected together using wall ties. Lay down all of the bricks lengthwise, with the long face of each brick visible. The end of every other course on a straight wall is completed with half-bricks (half-bats), resulting in each vertical junction being centered on the bricks above and below it. Likewise, to create corners, just alternate the headers and stretchers. Per square metre of floor space, you'll need about 60 bricks.

Mortar and mortar additives are two types of mortar.

Mortar is the substance that holds the bricks or stones of a wall together. General purpose mortars are composed of a combination of soft sand, lime, cement, and water; or a mixture of soft sand, cement, plasticiser, and water, depending on the use. It is necessary to add hydrated lime to mortar in order to slow down the drying process and prevent it from cracking. It also makes it simpler to work with the mortar. Plasticisers and frost-proofers work together to produce tiny air pockets in the mix, which smoothes it out. In colder climates, they are used to replace lime as a lime replacement. Because frost-proofer only provides limited protection against freezing, it is recommended not to construct your garden wall during freezing temperatures. When adding plasticisers to the mix, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations since too much will result in a mortar that is too brittle. Some masonry cements already include a plasticizer that is ready to use. Another option is to purchase bags of mortar that have already been pre-mixed to the proper proportions. Despite the fact that they are more costly, they are quite useful for minor tasks. Furthermore, if you so want, you may purchase various colored mortars to match different types of walling materials.

Mortar and pestle mixtures

Approximately 55 bricks may be laid using one 25kg bag of sand combined with the other materials and blended according to the proportions indicated in the table below.

Keeping things in storage

Maintain the dryness of your bricks and mortar supplies until you are ready to utilize them. It is a good idea to cover bricks, sand, and gravel with a plastic sheet to prevent them from being damaged. Aside from that, attempt to elevate cement bags off the ground and cover them with a plastic sheet, or keep them inside if possible.

Mortar weighing and gauging

For the most part, a shovel will suffice to measure the materials for the mortar. However, if the color of the mortar changes on certain kinds of walls (such as faced brick or pointed masonry), it will detract from the overall appearance. Gauging the mortar prevents this from occurring since it allows you to measure the proportions of the mix more accurately, rather than simply using a shovel, as you would normally do. Using a felt-tip marker, draw a line on the inside of a bucket to represent one unit of the mix. Then, one by one, pour the ingredients into the bucket, making sure that each measure is level with the line at the bottom.

How to Make Mortar and Pestle

Mixing mortar by hand or using a cement mixer is both possible; however, mixing mortar by hand has no practical benefit unless you just need a small quantity of mortar. You should utilize the mortar within two hours of creating it (and even less if it is hot outside), so make as much as you think you will be able to use in that time frame. As a very basic guideline, allow about two minutes for each brick to be laid. Mix your mortar on a level surface, such as a piece of plywood, and, if you're using a mixer, make sure it's on level ground as well. It's also important not to let mortar or concrete dry on your equipment. Every now and again, give them a good cleaning with a firm brush.

First and first, safety is paramount.

When mixing mortar or concrete, it is critical to protect one's eyes, hands, and face using protective goggles, gloves, and a face mask. You should also avoid putting your hands, or even the shovel, into a mixer while it is running.

Mortar is being mixed by hand.

Thoroughly combine the dry mortar ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Clean water (combined with plasticiser, if you're using it) should be poured into a hole in the center of the pile, which you should create with a shovel. Afterwards, gently put the dry mixture into the water, allowing it to soak in. Add additional water if required to get a smooth consistency. The consistency of the mortar is very essential - it must not be too dry or too runny at any point throughout the process. Make a dent in the mix with a shovel to see how it reacts. If this is simple to do and the mortar retains its form, you've achieved the proper consistency.

Making use of a mixer

Fill the mixer with about a quarter of a bucket of water. Start by adding half of the sand, followed by the cement and lime, if you're using it. Turn on the mixer and gradually add the remainder of the sand, as well as more water if required. Make sure to fully mix everything until you get a smooth consistency.

How to create a garden wall?

• Any wall above one metre height beside a public road or two metres high free-standing requires planning permission.
• For a robust and sturdy garden wall, the foundations should not be deeper than 30cm (12 inch).
• A raised bed with plants at the foot of an unsightly wall may help hide it.
• Garden walls may hold back soil to create a terraced area or prevent a steeply sloping bank from falling.
• Building rules do not apply to fences, walls, or gates.
• Despite the lack of building regulations, the structures must be sturdy and well-maintained.
• The materials used to create your house, as well as the materials used in nearby buildings and walls, are other factors to consider.
• If you select a design, be sure you have the proper mortar on available.
• To build a brick building, you'll need to practice cutting bricks.
• Measure the brick with a ruler and mark the cutting line on all four sides with a pencil.
• Score the line all the way around the brick with a gently pounded bolster with a club hammer.
• Then, with the indentation (or 'frog') side down, hit it hard enough to fully cut through it.
• Mortar is the glue that binds a wall's bricks or stones together.
• General use mortars include soft sand, lime, cement, and water.
• The employment of queen closers on alternate courses to stagger the joints
• A double-skin wall requires 120 bricks per square meter of floor area.
• Making a Mortar and Pestle is tough, but there are several tricks.
• Keep your bricks and mortar dry until you're ready to utilize them.
• When mixing mortar by hand or with a cement mixer, use protective goggles, gloves, and a face mask.
• If using a mixer, combine the sand and lime before adding additional water.
• Mix everything until it's smooth.
• If the mortar holds its shape, it's the right consistency.
• Remove the sand from the mixer if it was used in the mixing operation.

Written by
BrookPad Team