Cut wall looks ugly at the edge - what to do?

ey143

As part of the approval for a dropped curb by the council, I had to widen the opening of an existing a tall 1.5m approx front wall (minimum 2.75m opening required plus an additional 0.65m width and height to allow for pedestrian visibility).

As a result I know have an almost jagged edge brick wall which my builder has tried his best to make good but it wasn't easy because the bricks don't always line up. I don't like the idea of rendering it with cement as it will stick out and look even more unsightly.

And suggestions of how best to make of this situation? We might try to rebuild the outer layer but one level but won't be completely possible because some of the existing bricks cracked etc. the wall was very solid, 3 bricks deep and well constructed.

Thx.

anotherbaldrick

Builder should have cut it with a disc cutter not hammer and chisel , would be best to trim it back a bit with a disc wheel to get a nice edge.

Doozergirl

ey143 wrote: »

As part of the approval for a dropped curb by the council, I had to widen the opening of an existing a tall 1.5m approx front wall (minimum 2.75m opening required plus an additional 0.65m width and height to allow for pedestrian visibility).

As a result I know have an almost jagged edge brick wall which my builder has tried his best to make good but it wasn't easy because the bricks don't always line up. I don't like the idea of rendering it with cement as it will stick out and look even more unsightly.

And suggestions of how best to make of this situation? We might try to rebuild the outer layer but one level but won't be completely possible because some of the existing bricks cracked etc. the wall was very solid, 3 bricks deep and well constructed.

Thx.

Is this the builder that you want to build your extension?

This is elementary stuff. Hopefully he has cut it so that half of the bricks have been cut and half are at their natural edge. What he should do is called 'toothing in' - or rebuilding the outer layer as you have said. It depends on what method the bricks were laid with but you cut out the cut bricks altogether and replace them with new bricks where necessary or by turning them in so that the good edge is the only one showing. The cut edge of bricks are vulnerable to frost ingress, so it's good for the wall as well as making it look like the wall was built that way originally.

For me, the sign of a quality builder is one that takes pride and wouldn't quote for a job like that without doing it.

cyclonebri1

Doozergirl wrote: »

Is this the builder that you want to build your extension?

This is elementary stuff. Hopefully he has cut it so that half of the bricks have been cut and half are at their natural edge. What he should do is called 'toothing in' - or rebuilding the outer layer as you have said. It depends on what method the bricks were laid with but you cut out the cut bricks altogether and replace them with new bricks where necessary or by turning them in so that the good edge is the only one showing. The cut edge of bricks are vulnerable to frost ingress, so it's good for the wall as well as making it look like the wall was built that way originally.

For me, the sign of a quality builder is one that takes pride and wouldn't quote for a job like that without doing it.

I don't get the "bricks don't always line up" bit?, and agree with the above but you have a situation, not major but you don't like it, yeah?

Don't get why they should want extra wall height to help with ped visibility either, the lower the better?

Me?, I would have built either a brick pillar interated into the wall, or added a stone pillar, tied in, to bring the height up and define the opening

ey143

No, not the same builder we're using for the house extension.

It was the brick pilars and part of the wall which has a particular design on it, built with flint stones. He did use the grinder but difficult to chip away the wall. I was with him the whole day and it took a considerable amount of time the wall was three bricks thick and built with engineering bricks.

ey143

This is how the wall was before:
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And so far we have achieved this, but not yet finished:

[IMG][/img]

[IMG][/img]


Looking at it again last night, he did use grinder on the part we want to keep but the right side wall has to be lowered further to the grey capping about 0.6m from the ground.

We have a mini digger coming in later this week to dig the footings for a paved drive way so will need to finish the wall off then by putting a capping stone on the top of the lower wall and somehow making good on the cut brick edges of the taller wall (when further cut).

cyclonebri1

S/S render beads fixed to rough edges, then sand/cement render or (although it will be a pain) carefully take down the face of the wall, turn round the rough end or replace will the ones you have demolished.

Yes it will take time, but to be honest it looks like the butcher has done it at present:eek::eek:

question? did you ask the builder how to fix it?

It could have been avoided on the double brick taller sections, a decent grinder will cut a full bricks depth.

ey143

Yes that was one of the proposal, to reuse some of the non damages demolished bricks or rebuilt one layer after the curb has been dropped.

It's all temporary as we plan to replace the wall with a smaller and more open one, but in a few years time.

The problem is trying to take out the old bricks is a strain because the mortar seems to be a 3 to 1 mix he says making it considerably harder to chip out once grinded.

lstar337

If you are going to replace it all anyway, is it worth doing anything cosmetic at this point?

ey143

That was one of considerations but it might be a few years down the line and the road is a good road, so if its just about buying a few more bricks and a day's labour, is rather it look nice rather nice.