Re-build front garden wall

TheCyclingProgrammer

Our front garden wall is in a bad state of repair (see attached photos). It doesn't look good, has various cracks and the top 3 courses move when I push them with only gentle pressure - I don't think it would take much to make it topple. There's also an obvious slight lean.

It's not a big wall - its approx. 5.5m long with two brick piers at each end, single skin and 10 courses high.

I think its pretty much beyond repair and quite a few of the brick faces are blown too so would like to get it repaired, both for safety and aesthetics. It would be in a similar style to other brickwork on and around the house (a small bin store is red brick with a top course of charcoal grey bricks which looks quite smart). I wouldn't want to assume the existing footings are OK so should probably allow for new ones.

I recently had a local block paving/landscaping firm out to give me a quote to re-lay our ponding driveway and asked him to give me a quote at the same time. They initially came back with an estimate of £1750 + VAT for both the driveway (including lifting and cleaning existing blocks, new base and new header course) and the wall rebuild (materials included). I asked for an estimate for just the wall and it's £900 + VAT.

This seems a bit on the high side to me but I've really no idea! I estimated material costs to be in the region of £300 but have no idea on the labour side. It doesn't seem like a big job, maybe a day or two's work for a decent brickie.

Would I have better luck posting on something like MyBuilder (I've had mixed results in the past)? What should I be looking at roughly? Thanks!

brightontraveller

I would have thought 2-3 with all the preparation getting material, tools etc to site removing rubble cutting back bushes /trees etc, digging footings, wall two, piers point and all the other in a day? Even if the using existing footings that’s going it some??? I’d certainly question its quality if all done in a day

Good site bricky would lay that number of bricks in a day and more but everything’s set out to do it quick day in day out etc (if your quick/good you work on site not domestic) Domestics tends to be more young /less experienced or older who can’t, doesn't want or need too hack the pace sites expect ?

People tend to calculate materials at there cheapest e.g sand by the tonne bag bricks by the pallet at the end when you have all these over ordered materials they have to be removed/ disposed of somehow and that tends to cost more than buying them in the first place???

Think it’s a good price if your down south cheap (Personally I’d add another pier maybe two in the run ?)

jakemillspaek

It is dangerous and needs immediate attention.
Who ever put up a stretcher 1/2b wall with no intermediate piers should be shot.
A 1/2b bond that you have(stretcher) is 60nr bricks per m2.I would suggest garden wall or English bond which are 1b walls (12O bricks per m2).For the height use 0.075m per course.The choice of coping stone or eng brick topping is down to personal choice.
You can get tubbed mortar and choose your colour or let your brickie mix his own.Your footings will need sorting.It is 'Steady Eddie' type work for an old chap not a chav fresh from college.
You can work out quantities using length x 0.075 x 120.
Let your brickie give you advice on piers and choice of joint(flush,recessed,bucket handle etc)
He will need to demolish,sort out footings,set out and return to build the wall,protect.I would allow 3 days.
Of course you could demolish and sort the footings yourself.
A good brickie will do fair face both sides without asking.I wouldn't expect to get much change out of £1.8 to £2k.
Obviously 'Steady Eddie' may not be VAT reg.
You will only be doing this once so get what you want.

TheCyclingProgrammer

£2k? Pull the other one!

Original estimate has been revised down to £750 + VAT.

Got two more brickies coming to give me quotes in the next few days.

Thanks for the advice re: piers though. I did wonder if 1 brick instead of half brick would make for a better longer lasting wall though.

Furts

Have a think over your wall design. The existing has failed because it does not have a coping detail, and it is built with unsuitable bricks. Also introduce engineering bricks to give two/three courses of damp protection at the base.

Any bricklayer, or builder, who does not flag these items up is not going to be a real tradesman, or someone who knows but does not care.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Ok, I'll be sure to ask those quoting what the best (but still cost effective) design for a walk of that length and height would be and see what they say!

Or perhaps a better way would be to ask them why they think the current wall has deteriorated so badly?

Why are the bricks unsuitable? What bricks should be used? Thanks.

TheCyclingProgrammer

One other question - should I even consider a DIY job? I'm fairly handy but haven't done bricklaying before. I do obsessively research projects before I tackle them myself and only do things if I'm confident I could do a good job. I do have an eye for detail.

It strikes me that a wall like this might not be too difficult to tackle or am I underestimating the task?

Regarding design, any other suggestions here? Would I be better off with a double skinned wall instead of single skin with piers? Coping stones or engineering bricks on top? Pointing should presumably match the house?

brightontraveller

Its relatively easy if you have moderate DIY skills setting out and different bonds are probably harder for diyer but if you have the knack speed and accuracy come with experience (not everyone does )

Some bricks sand and hydrogenated lime normally (practice mix) 1 lime 5 sand (some do 1 lime 3 sand ) If you know what mix should feel like etc that’s half the battle so combination of above till it plays right may be needed once done it should have the “fat” consistency so behave very near to an actual mix (sand/water alone doesn’t have “fat” thus doesn’t behave like a real mix) keep it damp when not using you can use again and again If it dries you will need to crush it up again then add more water not that hard to do with lump hammer, At start sheets of ply or alike and raise from the floor its easier and you can see it better when practicing ?…. Even if you do wall and make pigs ear of it you can always render is assuming it straight , etc

jakemillspaek

The £1.8-£2k included all your costs (materials ETC).
Good luck on your bargain expectations.
Captain !!!! up up is clearing his throat.

TheCyclingProgrammer

The one quote I've had are from a reputable local contractor so I have no reason to believe the job wouldn't be done properly.

£2k for a small brick wall is ridiculous, sorry.

brightontraveller

Done properly doesn't equate to £ 750 + Strange there even VAT registered at that price even if they worked every week day of the year they’d still be below the threshold if material pricing is correct?