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Garden Walls in Worcester.

There are many excellent materials to build a garden wall, varying from practical to decorative.
Building a brick wall can be very satisfying as well as therapeutic, and is not as difficult as it looks.

Brick.

Facing Brick is sometimes available to match your house. Your local builder’s merchant should be able to help, could use contrasting colour.
Engineering bricks are strong and water resistant, They are sometimes used for foundations. Can be used as a soil retaining wall.

Natural Stone.

Many different kinds of natural stone, suitable for walls are available.
Can be very expensive, only use natural stone native to your area.
The most common is sandstone, limestone and granite.
The best looking limestone is Portland stone. York stone is the best known sandstone.

Screen Wall Block.

Pierced screen blocks are available in different geometric designs, make an attractive alternative to a solid wall.
Needs to be supported by reinforced pillars. Keep below five foot high.

Facing Block.

Facing blocks can be used for a garden wall, available with decorative surface. Reconstituted stone blocks also available.

Building a Brick Wall in the Garden.

The most important thing to remember, when building a wall. Good foundations are essential. For a wall 3ft. High the foundations should be at least 6ins. deep (8in. of concrete). And at least twice as wide as the wall.
First mark out where you want the wall using pegs and builders line. Dig out and level, using spirit level across pegs.
Height of foundations should be just below the surface. Mix concrete pour and tamp with a length of wood, level with pegs. Allow to dry for a few days before continuing. Next start laying the bricks on a half inch bed of mortar. “Running bond” is easiest.
The builder’s line should be used to keep wall in a straight line. The spirit level is used to keep wall vertical and horizontal.
When reaching the second course, a brick will have to be chopped in half, to ensure joints do not coincide, (use a lump hammer and a bolster to do this).
Continue using spirit level, tamping bricks with trowel handle, until level, and keeping close to the line
Finish the wall by pointing, gaps in the mortar can be made good with mortar using the pointing trowel.