Small bricklaying job..

lindos90

We want a small brick wall along the back of our garden, probably five courses high, to use as a retaining wall for few plants.

Im wondering if we should get a builder in, or if its a small enough job to tackle as a DIY job?

OH has never done bricklaying before, so dont know how difficult it would be to attempt, has anyone tried a 'bricky' ..its a gadget that lets you spread the mortor level, not sure if its a gimmick or would be useful?

Any comments welcomed!

ormus

best way for a diyer is to make a rustic brick wall. that way any imperfections can be put down to the country cottage look!
doing it properly takes a long time for a diyer, esp a novice. its one those jobs i hate doing. mainly cause ive got no bloody patience.
if you must do it, read up on it first. then follow all the professional brickie methods. using levels and string guides.
make a mortar gauge board too. it helps a lot.

wallbash

quote has anyone tried a 'bricky'

Is that the one sold via tv. Irish guy , shows Tommy walsh??

Looks a reasonable idea. But its £30 plus.
I rather take twice as long and save my money .
Garden wall ( low) ideal first time project .

Welsh_Totster

I agree with ormus, In our last house we re-landscaped the garden and built in long raised flower beds (3 blocks high) to retain the patio and the lawn (it was a sloped garden that we had stepped) I decided the rustic look was they way to go as I knew we wouldnt get it perfect.

So we built the walls from building blocks, then roughly rendered them (2 coats) then painted them the same colour as the house (masonly paint) the fact they were rough rendered and in places not totally straight made it look like it was meant to be like that. Once the plants had grown properly in the beds it looked great!..

ormus

the rustic look?
it could always be worse!

wallbash

Like the hat , do you always wear it that way?

Welsh_Totster

There's rustic and then there's rustic!

lindos90

Hi, thanks for all the replies, change of plan now, think we may get the builder to do it after all....we have just had a quote for some plastering work and for a door from kitchen into the garage, which was MUCH less (by about a grand) than we anticipated, so while he's here I'll get him to do the wall, as he seems very reasonable.

Theres rustic and theres rustic.....AND then theres rustic!!!:rotfl:

lindos90

ormus wrote: »

the rustic look?
it could always be worse!

That is SO funny!..Give him credit, hes got it on the line though...must be costing him a fortune in mortor!!:rotfl:
Wonder how much he's paying the Hobbit for his labour?

jojones55

lindos90 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for all the replies, change of plan now, think we may get the builder to do it after all....we have just had a quote for some plastering work and for a door from kitchen into the garage, which was MUCH less (by about a grand) than we anticipated, so while he's here I'll get him to do the wall, as he seems very reasonable.

Theres rustic and theres rustic.....AND then theres rustic!!!:rotfl:

good idea!
walls need to be perfect or they look a mess (unless you want the rustic look)

Plasterer

Welsh_Totster wrote: »

There's rustic and then there's rustic!

Sorry to pick you up on your spelling Totster but youv'e spelt "rubbish" incorrectly (twice).