Re-build front garden wall

Furts

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Ok, contractor one says his best price is £750 + VAT and includes new footings which he insists would be a good idea. Tells me you can't have crease tiles on a half brick wall.

Second has quoted me £100 more materials and labour to add a double row of crease tiles. Says the blue eng bricks are durable and he's topped many walls with them no problem and the red stocks are frost resistant.

I guess I need to wait for the third quote but leaning towards the first guy now.

At least you are sorting the wheat from the chaff. Contractor one does not know how to build a wall, so would be best avoided, unless you wish to guide and teach him. This is a possibility so should not be dismissed. I have done this before with tradesmen and the end result has been fine.

Equally, are you taking on board my comment about frost resistance and low salts? I too thought your bricks looked liike commons, and this is the worst possible location and use for them. You really should be seeking a different brick.

TheCyclingProgrammer

I take it from your comment that crease tiles on a half brick wall are perfectly possible? I was struggling to find examples.

The second guy did explain to me at the time why he thought existing footings should be fine - said he couldn't see any signs of ground heave (think that's what he said). To me the bottom of the wall does look fairly sound and I'm guessing the damage is a result of long term weathering and lack of support in the middle?

He also pointed out the common bricks and explained they had a tendency to weather the way they have. He wasn't planning on using the same sort of brick, they don't even match the house.

He mentioned Warnham Reds or one other type of red stock.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Third guy came this morning, will send me the quote later.

He also agreed that the base of the wall looked OK and that the existing footing should be fine for another half brick wall. Also agreed it should have an intermediate pier and to his credit is the only person so far to get a shovel out and dig down to check the existing footings are wide enough to support one (they are).

When asked he said it is normal to use engineering bricks for the first 2 courses and he also suggested Warnham reds for the facing bricks due to their durability (I've checked and they are F2/S2). Blue engineering course on top with a double course of creasing tiles (no suggestion that a half brick wall couldn't support them!).

I've also decided to get the opposite 450mm pier rebuilt as while it's not quite as bad it's still looking rough and would look odd if the rest of the wall was new so I have asked him to quote for that. It's on our boundary with our neighbours so may need to speak to them and hopefully there's no need to faff around with a party wall notice.

jakemillspaek

Now 25 messages on a simple garden wall rebuild.:)
I'm looking forward to seeing the result.
Next you will need CCTV and a shotgun to deter the local graffiti artists.(Unless its Banksy)

TheCyclingProgrammer

Well I thought it was a simple thing but apparently not.

Interestingly I've been looking at everyone's walls in the area and a large number of them are simply finished with a soldier course or bricks on edge capping, no coping or creasing tiles. *shrugs*

Furts

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Well I thought it was a simple thing but apparently not.

Interestingly I've been looking at everyone's walls in the area and a large number of them are simply finished with a soldier course or bricks on edge capping, no coping or creasing tiles. *shrugs*

Third guy is correct with blue engineerings and a double creasing tile course, so he is the only one who appears to be competent.

Others around you are living proof that the vast majority could not care less about what is built. But then the wall fails, just as yours has done, people tend to ask why? They often feign innocence, yet they are the creators of their own misfortune!

My garden walls are tall, exposed, vulnerable, and subject to intense rain and freezing. However they are built to the correct details. The result is they are as good today as the day they were built, and that was thirty years ago. My neighbours have some different details and some walls have failed after only six months.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Had final quote back from last guy of £865. This included the creasing tile course and also demolition and rebuild of standalone pier.

Went back to the second guy and asked for a revised quote to include the creasing tile course and rebuild of standalone pier, came back at £845. I also asked about using engineerings for bottom courses and he said this was already included in his quote because "its the way all walls should be built unless asked to be left out by client or semi- engineering bricks are used to build the whole wall".

So both second and third guys seem to know their stuff, second guy seemed a bit more professional, is marginally cheaper and has given me a proper detailed written quote.

I've also asked for the end piers to be made two courses higher as I think this will look better. He should be able to fit me in by the end of the month as they are working in the area, so I'll post back and let you know the end result.

SteveV2

When they say 2 courses of engins, make sure it's 2 course above ground level. Insist on all courses from 150mm above ground level to be in these. Make sure the tops ones are class 1 or class a. These will not crumble. Blues usually are, most reds are not. Solid red usually are though. When I say top, the bricks on the tiles.

I built a wall many years ago and the customer bought class Bs as they were cheaper. 5 years later back I went an replace those! These had just crumbled away, pretty shocking how bad they were!

TheCyclingProgrammer

For the sake of completeness I thought I'd come back and update this thread with the end result. It might not be a fancy 9" wall but it looks a million times better and I'm happy with the end result. Definitely glad I went with the creasing tiles, thanks whoever suggested that.

Once the creasing tile course and standalone pier was added on the whole lot came to £1k.

All I've got to do now is hose down the pavement.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Is that last photo appearing upside down for anyone else? Not sure what's going on there.