What to do with the "Pit of Despair"? Log store/garden..

[Bill]

This is the end of out patio, beside the back door and really needs to be prettier. I'm vaguely planning to build a log store and put some gravel down but need to clad (or cover in some way) the breeze blocks. That's a retaining wall so can't change structurally although I'm about to go out and see if I can remove a course...

[GIYess]

I'd say smooth plaster and whitewash or paint a colour of your choosing and get some slabs down on the ground to level it up? Are those holes there for drainage or is it properly drained behind?

[Gooose]

See if you can remove the top 2 courses so it looks better in relation to the house. Cut the removed blocks at an angle for all the step down on the ends and render.
Slab out the floor area and whitewash it all and it will look nice

[mr_spock]

In my experience, rendering a retaining wall will usually end up with blown render, flaky paint and an awful look after a few years. Last house we use Marley Cedral cladding on the retaining walls and it looked great.

[clockworks]

Build a fence with a gate across the whole area so you can't see it from the rest of the garden.

[SHutchinson]

That retaining wall you can't alter structurally doesn't look very structural!

[Andehh]

I would build a wooden frame within it clad it with some cheapie boards - decking boards or equivalent. Flatten floor, laying paving slabs, lay self leveler over the lot, paint walls white, add lights and a cheapie door, job done.

Or do floor as above, then sacrifice raw space for nice & easy - buy biggest shed that fits the space.

Also +1 on that ''structural wall'' I wouldn't touch it, let alone try building off it....

[Herbs]

A vote for painted horizontal cladding (shiplap or decking boards).

In addition you would be able to hide some bracing behind it to help spread the load of that wall as it's not in the best of shapes

[TooMany2cvs]

SHutchinson said:

That retaining wall you can't alter structurally doesn't look very structural!

This...

But if it's a log store, why worry? You're not going to see the walls for logs, right?

[ianrb]

TooMany2cvs said:

SHutchinson said:

That retaining wall you can't alter structurally doesn't look very structural!

This...

But if it's a log store, why worry? You're not going to see the walls for logs, right?

A log store needs to be well ventilated. That corner looks anything but.

[Bill]

TooMany2cvs said:

SHutchinson said:

That retaining wall you can't alter structurally doesn't look very structural!

This...

But if it's a log store, why worry? You're not going to see the walls for logs, right?

It's got reinforcing rods running through it and is very solid. It's not pretty but serves a purpose, and the holes are needed for drainage.

They logs will get used so we'll see the wall at various stages. Potentially, just painting it grey might work as it'll be under the store roof.

[Bill]

Good point on ventilation, it does get sun in the summer...

I'm not keen on render, partly because it'll blow and partly because it's a bit modern compared to the c17 house. We also want to avoid gates/sheds.

[RC1807]

Trellis, on the L/H, with honeysuckle growing over it to cover a LOT of that in the background, opening wide enough to get to log store, against the R/H wall?
Think of the bees

[Black_S3]

I'd def be wanting at least the top 3 rows removing as it looks to me like the wall collapsing is more dangerous than it's purpose. Is there an option of planting stuff on the banking that the roots will help support the bank, then go with something like that wire meshed pebble type stuff you see?

[Bill]

I promise you that wall is going nowhere. And ground level is at the bottom of the second course from the top.

[Bill]

Just an update (And in the spirit of all good threads I've mostly ignored you all... ) got started this week on some cladding. I'm planning to build a roof over the far end and 2/3 of the side wall.

[Andehh]

Good work, thanks for for updating us! Half the fun of posting these threads is ignoring everyone. Keep us updated!

[Condi]

Couldnt you find some straight bits of wood! Deserves to be in the 'These pictures make my teeth itch' thread.

[RichB]

It called waney edge cladding, meant to be like that

[Bill]

At least it meets in the corners. More or less.