Whether you want to secure your property’s perimeter or you would like to separate your garden into different sections, or even build raised flowerbeds, putting up a wall is ideal for all of these things. When using the right brick, garden walls can look more attractive than fences at times, and they can help you to feel more secure as they tend to be more durable and thicker. If you would like to put up a garden wall yourself rather than hiring someone else to do it, here is a quick how-to guide you might find useful.
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Dig and Prepare the Foundations
Just like any sort of construction work, you need to make sure that the foundations are sound before you start laying any brickwork. Dig a trench around 20cm deep and 30cm wide, or a little wider, depending on the size of your bricks. You will be laying the bricks in the middle of this trench, and using pegs or other markers around the edge of your trench can also be useful to keep you on the right track. Fill the bottom of the trench with 10cm of hardcore and then cover with concrete to create the foundation for your wall.
Start Laying the Bricks
Once your foundation is set, you can begin laying the bricks. You will need to put a layer of mortar along the foundation and make sure that this is spread evenly. You’ll also need to do this over the top of each brick as you start laying them on top of each other. Do not stack the bricks directly on top of one another, as this will not create a stable wall. Make sure that you stagger them, so they overlap. You should also try to avoid getting mortar on the bricks as this will set and make your wall unattractive, so wipe off blotches or surplus mortar lightly with a damp cloth, brush, or use your trowel to scrape it off. You can also get specific grouting equipment that will help you build your wall and keep things tidy.
At both ends of each level of your brick wall, use half bricks to create a stretcher bond. You make half to cut bricks in half with a chisel or use an angle grinder for more precise cutting.
Finish with Coping
When you have reached the height you want for your wall, lay some coping down on the top to finish it off with style and to help protect the brick underneath. You can choose flat sloping, which might work well for raised flowerbed walls, but for perimeter walls, you might want to think about using sloped coping as this could make it a little harder to climb and get over the top.
If you want to, you can choose to paint your garden walls. If you want to add a splash of color, just make sure you are using paint that is suitable for the outdoors. You’ll also need to touch this up every few years or when you notice it starts to flake to keep up your walls looking good. You should also check for weeds or plant roots every once in a while, as they can damage the grouting and make your garden walls structurally unsound if the problem is not dealt with.
