New build - Garden wall foundations? (blueg33?)

[Andehh]

We are in the process of looking at getting our garden wall wall built up.

We currently have a small one that follows the contours of the driveway surface. At it's highest it is 5-6 courses, and its lowest it is 3 courses. All engineering bricks. There are also 2 towers, at approx 2.4m tall which our gate hangs off. We are looking to icnrease this to 2m.

We have had a number of people come out (a few who know the estate well) and look at it, and not a single one has queried the foundations it sits on. Unfortunately it was only late last night that this all occurred to me.

Before I start digging test holes to investigate the foundations, any ideas on what I can expect? The existing wall is solid and level, and has 4 neat steps as the driveway slopes down. I presume it must have some sort of concrete foundation a few courses down?

Anyone familiar with new builds able to advise on what sort of regulations governed the building of these walls?

[worsy]

Towers.....wall, is this new build in Berlin circa 1962?

Joking aside, I suggest you take a look at the link below. at 2 metres you are going to need a block skin too so I expect your existing wall needs to come out.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/commo...

[Andehh]

The wall is only 4-5M long between House and Pillar and Pillar and Garage (with said gate between pillars), half of this is on a curve/angle as well. It is also very well protected from any wind.

Existing wall is 200mm wide, so this will be maintained, and whilst 90% of those that have come out (mixture of builders & brickies) have advised tieing the wall into the house/pillar/garage, none have queried/warned off my request of building the wall up higher or what foundations are in place.

hmm....

edit: for what it's worth throughout the estate there are identical walls to what we want to create. Most to the same 2m we are aiming to achieve.

Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 1st February 10:03

[Risotto]

If the new build is on a development, you may want to confirm you're allowed to put a 2m high wall up before starting work. A few developments I know of have restrictions on that sort of thing.

[worsy]

Is your existing wall double skinned?

[Andehh]

Current wall is double skinned yes (as in two bricks thick?).

Estate is over 10 years old, and the wall is technically across my own land, as it is my garden on one side and my driveway on the other. Neighbour who shares our driveway is keen for me to go ahead, as he wants to do the same thing for his wall!

[worsy]

Andehh said:

Current wall is double skinned yes (as in two bricks thick?).

Estate is over 10 years old, and the wall is technically across my own land, as it is my garden on one side and my driveway on the other. Neighbour who shares our driveway is keen for me to go ahead, as he wants to do the same thing for his wall!

Good, I had visions of a single skin wall then

So simple answer is I suspect the foundations are good enough for what is there. TBH a wall doesn't need too much but would be worth exposing it to double check. You may need to add some piers but you could pad them and tie the piers to the wall as you build.

We had a wall at our last gaff which was similar to what you are proposing,. No problems with it, even without piers. I'll try and dig out a picture.

[worsy]

Walls being built, you'll see the foundations are blocks.




Wall with snow on.

[SAB888]

A one brick thick wall would be 215mm wide. You would be just above recommended height limits (depending on what references are being used) for a 2M high, 215mm thick wall even if you had piers to strengthen it.

The concrete blocks aren't the foundation (in the photo), they are the wall which should be below ground level so won't be visible. The concrete foundations will be below this.

[Andehh]

Thanks very much guys & especially worsy. That's a similar wall to what we are building, but using the same brick that our house is made up of (a faux natural stone type).

There are walls all over the estate to the same standard we are aiming to achieve, all to 2m high, all 215mm ish thick. As I said as well, it is also very sheltered from any wind, so can't see any undue loading on it.

[TA14]

SAB888 said:

A one brick thick wall would be 215mm wide. You would be just above recommended height limits (depending on what references are being used) for a 2M high, 215mm thick wall even if you had piers to strengthen it.

You could build it 20m high with piers.

[Spudler]

Andehh said:

There are walls all over the estate to the same standard we are aiming to achieve, all to 2m high, all 215mm ish thick. As I said as well, it is also very sheltered from any wind, so can't see any undue loading on it.

Based on this you'll be fine.
Do not let the brickies use a dpc, use an engineering brick for two courses before your brick of choice.

[Andehh]

Spudler said:

Andehh said:

There are walls all over the estate to the same standard we are aiming to achieve, all to 2m high, all 215mm ish thick. As I said as well, it is also very sheltered from any wind, so can't see any undue loading on it.

Based on this you'll be fine.
Do not let the brickies use a dpc, use an engineering brick for two courses before your brick of choice.

Thanks mate, the existing wall is already made up of engineering bricks so we are sorted on that front!

[Busa mav]

TA14 said:

You could build it 20m high with piers.

No, he would struggle with planning