Garden Brick Wall - Stepped cracks

Froggitt

The garden wall, which is about three foot high, has developed stepped cracks along the mortar, wide enough to get a pencil in. The bricks are not cracked or broken.


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I suspect the wall was built on sponge biscuits. It does not appear to be falling over in any way at this time.

It is not attached to the house, and I don't really want the wall rebuilt. The crack is about two foot long.

Is there some gook that I can squirt into the crack to stabilise and hold the wall together? Any other recommendations as to what I can do?

grumbler

I don't think you can stop the crack from growing.
Usually, to prvent long wall from cracking randomly vertical expansion/movement joints are made with slip ties -

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Builders/ProductsandServices/TechZone/NHBCStandards/TechnicalGuidanceDocuments/61/filedownload,65367,en.pdf
https://www.twistfix.co.uk/slip-ties


The gap is filled with something elastic, and ties link parts of the wall preventing them from falling. However they aren't long enough for your pattern of cracking .

However, longer ties like these can possibly be added - https://www.helifix.co.uk/products/remedial-products/movement-joints/
I've never seen them before and am not sure that they are long enough (400mm according to https://www.helifix.co.uk/uploads/pdfs/PS-Movement-Joints.pdf).