Build small wall properly - how to?

waterwatereverywhere

Hi

We had a problem with damp caused by someone putting a flower bed right up against the wall, 6 inches higher than the DPC and blocking an airbrick.

We have dug the flower bed back down to DPC level and about 2 ft away from the house wall. So the level of flower bed is the same height as it was in rest of garden but drops before it reaches the house. (hope this makes sense!)

At the moment we've used just propped up old roof slates to hold back the earth from the flower bed but we'd like to create a small hard standing area in the dug out bit to stand something decorative and a small sort of retaining wall to hold back the earth from the flower bed where it rises in height again.

The wall would only need to be about 1 ft high but we're novices - what type/mix of sand/cement should we use to build this properly so it doesn't fall down again?

Do we just stamp out the base and line with gravel first?

The rest of the bed is lined along the path with those Victorian rope edge style edging stones and we'd like to use these in our retaining wall if possible but don't know how to build it strongly enough to hold back the earth and stop the whole thing collapsing in five seconds!

Any advice gratefully received, thank you in advance.

west_ham_till_i_die

6 Sand to 1 Cement or 5 to 1 would be ok you could use a bucket to measure the mix out the base would be stronger with concrete 4 ballast to 1 cement

ormus

it seems a lot of work for just a 1ft high brick wall. why not consider alternatives such as railway sleepers?
much easier to install for a DIYer.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you could maybe do it with foot square paving slabs, and set some on end for the wall.

wallbash

I would lay some bricks . It would be a nice beginners introduction to brick laying .

Carting/moving a 'sleeper' around is heavy work.
Slabs , might move. and would still need some cement.

bricks are cheap , easy to handle ,
And if did not look perfect .... tell everyone you are going for the rustic look

Base has to be a concrete slab , but not very thick.
Lay bricks out dry first , take your time .

waterwatereverywhere

Hi

Thanks for all the advice - quite a lot of stuff we hadn't even thought of. Would love railway sleeper but these are usually expensive and heavy too and we'd prefer to go for a budget option and have some spare bricks so think this would be the best option. Thanks for the ideas.

sillywilly

Make sure you get a good base. I am not sure just "stamping" on it will be sufficient!!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

Would love railway sleeper but these are usually expensive and heavy too

you might find some locally, seems to be plenty of suppliers.

alibags

Have a lok at sites like diy doctor, as a general rule of thumb, I understand that anything touching the outside wall should be 6inches( 1.5 bricks) below DPC