Garden landscaping advice
Discussion
Having done plenty of DIY projects in the past, I'm not looking at moving into some garden work for the first time, so am looking for some advice to prevent my dropping any clangers.
It's a new build garden, so currently has turf on a not particularly well prepared base. It is bordered on one side by the garage. The garden currently slopes down from right to left, and from back to front, so the idea is to level it out. The idea is to have a patio area closest to the house (all the way across) and then create a wall from sleepers or similar, so I can build up the level at the front.
The questions I have at the moment are:
what should I bed the sleepers on to make sure they done budge/sink. So far I've seem advice that says concrete, soil and even gravel!
As part of building up the level of the ground, I will be raising the soli level up against the garage. Is this going to be an issue / do I need to do something to prevent damp issues?
I'm assuming I can just build up the soil behind the sleepers - is this correct?
Beneath the existing grass I'm hitting clay very quickly when digging, so don't want to have to go too deep, but on the other hand I want to get rid of all the crap that's going to stop a decent lawn growing. What depth of topsoil should I be aiming for?
Pictures below for context:
It's a new build garden, so currently has turf on a not particularly well prepared base. It is bordered on one side by the garage. The garden currently slopes down from right to left, and from back to front, so the idea is to level it out. The idea is to have a patio area closest to the house (all the way across) and then create a wall from sleepers or similar, so I can build up the level at the front.
The questions I have at the moment are:
what should I bed the sleepers on to make sure they done budge/sink. So far I've seem advice that says concrete, soil and even gravel!
As part of building up the level of the ground, I will be raising the soli level up against the garage. Is this going to be an issue / do I need to do something to prevent damp issues?
I'm assuming I can just build up the soil behind the sleepers - is this correct?
Beneath the existing grass I'm hitting clay very quickly when digging, so don't want to have to go too deep, but on the other hand I want to get rid of all the crap that's going to stop a decent lawn growing. What depth of topsoil should I be aiming for?
Pictures below for context:
J3PTF said:
As part of building up the level of the ground, I will be raising the soli level up against the garage. Is this going to be an issue / do I need to do something to prevent damp issues?
Your garage should have a DPC (damp-proof course). Don't pile the soil over this.J3PTF said:
I'm assuming I can just build up the soil behind the sleepers - is this correct?
Yes, as long as they have some preservative on them.J3PTF said:
Beneath the existing grass I'm hitting clay very quickly when digging, so don't want to have to go too deep, but on the other hand I want to get rid of all the crap that's going to stop a decent lawn growing. What depth of topsoil should I be aiming for?
At a slight guess, 6".
DPC usually 2 bricks up. It looks fairly obvious on your garage shot.
I'd be inclined to build a patio with a retaining wall behind then step up to the garden. Don't pile up soil at the garage side, if you must level then dig out the other side.
I'd be inclined to build a patio with a retaining wall behind then step up to the garden. Don't pile up soil at the garage side, if you must level then dig out the other side.
Edited by worsy on Tuesday 8th September 07:50
Ok thanks - I assume that's the lighter bricks then?
The issue with lowering the level all across is we'd then lose a fair bit of light as the back fence would have to remain the same height. Raising the front and lowering the back was a compromise between the two.
May have to put a thin strip of patio there, but would be a shame as that would make quite a difference to the width.
What sort of gap would I need between the garage wall and any retaining wall to give enough air circulation?
The issue with lowering the level all across is we'd then lose a fair bit of light as the back fence would have to remain the same height. Raising the front and lowering the back was a compromise between the two.
May have to put a thin strip of patio there, but would be a shame as that would make quite a difference to the width.
What sort of gap would I need between the garage wall and any retaining wall to give enough air circulation?
J3PTF said:
Ok thanks - I assume that's the lighter bricks then?
The issue with lowering the level all across is we'd then lose a fair bit of light as the back fence would have to remain the same height. Raising the front and lowering the back was a compromise between the two.
May have to put a thin strip of patio there, but would be a shame as that would make quite a difference to the width.
What sort of gap would I need between the garage wall and any retaining wall to give enough air circulation?
Still red bricks, but you can see a thicker mortar line.The issue with lowering the level all across is we'd then lose a fair bit of light as the back fence would have to remain the same height. Raising the front and lowering the back was a compromise between the two.
May have to put a thin strip of patio there, but would be a shame as that would make quite a difference to the width.
What sort of gap would I need between the garage wall and any retaining wall to give enough air circulation?
I'd be inclined to put a path round the garage and then a retaining wall in then. It will look a lot neater than building up to the garage wall.
If you must build up earth against your brick wall or one made of railway sleepers I'd place some of this Damp membrane between the earth and the wall. As far as securing sleepers I used some at a previous property to help raise a section of garden. I already had a concrete base that they where going onto, using long drills I drilled through the sleepers and concrete and then hammered reinforcement bar through the lot.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff