Garden Wall Cracked & Moving

Exodi

Hi all,

While I like to consider myself somewhat DIY savvy, I don't know the first thing about walls (so appreciate explanations in non-trade speak if possible!).

We have a garden wall, approx 5m x 2m (there are actually several interconnected by brick columns, but only one is an issue) that runs parallel to the house, creating a little alley. Unfortunately during storm Eunice, I believe wind blasted down this alley, met the shut gate at the end and the wind was forced sideways into the wall. It then managed to push the wall out by a few centimeters so the latch no longer caught and the gate blew open!

Immediately after the storm, I noticed cracks over the wall, running horizantly and vertically - and with a decent amount force, I am now able to wiggle the wall slightly.

Unfortunately it's been windy a lot recently (and I expect this is likely to continue) and after windy days I see a couple more cracks forming, so I expect it's only a matter of time until it comes down (albeit probably months rather than days)

While it seems to be covered in cement/render, from looking at the size of cracks, I would guess it is constructed from concrete/breeze blocks?

Please could you advise best course of action?

In particular -

1) is this someone that you'd attempt yourself, or best left to professionals?
2) do you think this is a repointing job, or a 'knock it down and start again' job? I'm a bit hesitant to ask tradespeople for guidance, as I expect they are likely to prefer rebuilding.
3) any idea of what costs may be, however rough, would be greatly appreciated. At the moment, I don't know if I'm looking at a £20, £200 or £2000 issue.
4) looking at the size of the gate (and considering the alley), do you think I should replace the gate for a hollow metal gate? I believe this was all caused because wind shooting down the alley was hitting the gate.

Thanks for any and all help - happy to answer any questions.

stuart45

It really needs to be rebuilt. The wall is too thin. Have at look at the correct thickness for your zone. At that height it is probably a 13 inch brick wall.
It's going to hurt someone if it comes down on them.

twopenny

The first photo of the pillar it looks like it's leaning. There is no sign of a gate post.
The last shows a straight post.
Which is it?

Cracks need to be knocked out at that size and rebuilt. Not difficult.
And it doesn't look like much render, more paint.
Perhaps the weather has shown a fault covered up by painting.

stuart45

To me it looks like a 4 inch block wall, rendered and then painted. The main fault was building it that high.

GDB2222

Are garden walls ever built with sufficient footings? 

woody7777

GDB2222 said:

Are garden walls ever built with sufficient footings? 

How deep must the foundations be for a wall like this?

Section62

woody7777 said:

GDB2222 said:

Are garden walls ever built with sufficient footings? 

How deep must the foundations be for a wall like this?

I don't think depth of the foundations is really an issue here - I agree with stuart45 that the wall is too slender (the height is too great for the thickness) and that alone makes it vulnerable to movement and/or collapse under load.

Answering the question though - the depth needs to be (1) sufficient to be below the level of frost influence and in applicable cases the influence of changes in moisture content, (2) providing sufficient thickness of concrete for the load, (3) into a level of subsoil with sufficient bearing capacity for the wall and foundations.  In other words, 'it depends'.

stuart45

Exodi said:

3) any idea of what costs may be, however rough, would be greatly appreciated. At the moment, I don't know if I'm looking at a £20, £200 or £2000 issue.

depends on what you go for, but to rebuild a wall to that height at the correct thickness could be around £4,000.

Exodi

Thanks all, seems my dreams that this would only cost a couple of hundred quid are dead.

Will get some tradespeople round to quote, think I'll need to be sitting down when they do it...

stuart45

You might find someone who thinks grinding out the cracked joints and repointing is OK. Possibly stitching up the vertical crack as well.
Have you thought about an insurance claim?

Exodi

stuart45 said:

You might find someone who thinks grinding out the cracked joints and repointing is OK. Possibly stitching up the vertical crack as well.
Have you thought about an insurance claim?

I checked my home insurance first, I don't have garden cover (at the time, my logic was that there's nothing in my garden except a dog house and the lawn - not thinking that the walls could fall down!)

My partner suggested adding it then waiting 6 months till the wall 'falls down' but I'm not sure I want to go down this route...

Actually just had first tradesperson round. Said it would need to be rebuilt because of how it moves... concrete blocks, brick tiles, sand cement, wall ties, labour 2 days 3 men, and clearing of old wall about £2500 (which includes knocking down existing wall, rebuilding pillar, then rebuilding block work from both pillars and infill - with render finish).

Still trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm potentially out of pocket £2.5k because of a windy day - thats a week all inclusive in a five star resort in greece with spending money!