Cost to build a new front garden wall

[Welshbeef]

One of my let houses 3 bed semi 1930's with its original front wall - wall is now past it.

Plot width is 3 bed semi 1930's with 1.5m between house and boundary (no garage).
Wall is only along the front with clearly an entry for the drive - no side walls, one side is hedge (neighbour who will not have it removed even for a nice new wall) other side is a fence which is in very good condition.

So a new wall is required.
I have bricks which have been left over from the building of the extension on the house (some 20 years ago) bricks have been kept totally dry and are as far as Im concerned "as new" - I believe there are enough for the job and frankly they are doing nothing else just sitting in the garden so I'd like to use them.

Question is what is a good price for the removal of the old wall and rebuilding of the new one? (guessing MAX 1 days labour). Only extra material I might want is a nice Capping for the Pillar. Oh and to make the enterence wider than currently by c 2 foot.

[Gav147]

I would say that you will also need to dig and lay a footing for the new wall.

As for prices, it depends on where abouts you are and the labour rates in that area.

[Welshbeef]

Gav147 said:

I would say that you will also need to dig and lay a footing for the new wall.

As for prices, it depends on where abouts you are and the labour rates in that area.

Berkshire

[shimmey69]

if you are putting in the footings which is advisable and then sand/cement for the building of the wall, disposal of the old wall, you probably looking at 2 days work and around the £5-600 mark all in.

[ClaphamGT3]

shimmey69 said:

if you are putting in the footings which is advisable and then sand/cement for the building of the wall, disposal of the old wall, you probably looking at 2 days work and around the £5-600 mark all in.

I think you'd be lucky frankly. Your day rates aren't far off but I think you'd comfortably double the hours. I'd say anything under £1k and you're doing well.

[sleep envy]

ClaphamGT3 said:

I'd say anything under £1k and you're doing well.

agreed

[shimmey69]

sleep envy said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

I'd say anything under £1k and you're doing well.

agreed

depends on height of wall i suppose, i was thinking the size of my front wall which is about 5 bricks high, well thats what i would charge for it. obviously if it was able to be leant on whilst standing then your £1k mark is about right.

[Welshbeef]

Had a local builder round last night to see it - used him before good work - he said The actual Job would be charged as one days work but may be two half days to allow the footings to set.

Bricks I have can be used for the job.

Rate is £300/day.
I'm guessing if it was plus material it would be double that??

[Steffan]

Garden walls being exposed on both sides, tend to deteriorate rapidly because of this`exposure. Also no borrowed heat as in a external house walls. Therefore much more weathered and exposed to frost etc.

I would definitely recommend brick of at least class B semi engineering standard, these are not cheap, but will outlast flettons and the cheap porous brick alternatives by many years, particularly in exposed conditions.

Essentially frost and damp proof which is good in a garden wall.

Prices quoted by your builder are reasonable for a decent job.

And he is a known quantity.

Brick prices depend on volume and delivery etc but you should get decent bricks for £500 a thousand delivered. This is a good price for a decent brick.

I assume there are no planning conditions affected or special requirements in a conservation are etc and there is no retaining requirement (different levels either side of wall, bank of soil held up etc) because this would require a different approach.

[Welshbeef]

None at all - free standing. One side is the pavement the other a flower bed.

[shimmey69]

Class b engineering bricks are quite cheap usually around £300-350 a thousand! And day rates about right!