Good evening everyone!
A while ago, I already shared my frustration about the unsatisfactory view facing our neighbor’s garden, where they have placed a metal shed right on the boundary. We’re now thinking about how to improve our side of the garden to avoid looking at that shed for years to come.
My latest idea: I’d like to build something like a ruined wall. I have a strong urge to do some masonry work. The problem: I’ve never laid bricks or stones before in my life.
I’ve attached an example picture. (Please ignore the window—I think I would skip that.)
What do you think—how difficult would this be? Could I just buy a few square meters of facing bricks / veneer bricks from Röben and some mortar and start building? Are there better or cheaper stones for this? I’d like the look to be as rustic as possible. Unfortunately, there’s nothing available on local online marketplaces right now—I’m also not a big fan of picking up large loads, since I’d have to rent a vehicle to transport them because they won’t fit in my A1.
How would you anchor something like this in the ground? Can I just dig a shallow trench (20cm (8 inches)?) and set the first stone in the earth, then build on top of that? Or do I need concrete underneath?
Would something like this stand up to strong winds? How far would I need to set this back onto my property (setback distance) so it’s not considered a fence? If it stays under 180cm (6 ft) high, I assume it wouldn’t require a building permit / planning permission? (Sorry if these are region-specific questions—feel free to ignore them.)
Best regards,
the creatively minded Kati
A while ago, I already shared my frustration about the unsatisfactory view facing our neighbor’s garden, where they have placed a metal shed right on the boundary. We’re now thinking about how to improve our side of the garden to avoid looking at that shed for years to come.
My latest idea: I’d like to build something like a ruined wall. I have a strong urge to do some masonry work. The problem: I’ve never laid bricks or stones before in my life.
I’ve attached an example picture. (Please ignore the window—I think I would skip that.)
What do you think—how difficult would this be? Could I just buy a few square meters of facing bricks / veneer bricks from Röben and some mortar and start building? Are there better or cheaper stones for this? I’d like the look to be as rustic as possible. Unfortunately, there’s nothing available on local online marketplaces right now—I’m also not a big fan of picking up large loads, since I’d have to rent a vehicle to transport them because they won’t fit in my A1.
How would you anchor something like this in the ground? Can I just dig a shallow trench (20cm (8 inches)?) and set the first stone in the earth, then build on top of that? Or do I need concrete underneath?
Would something like this stand up to strong winds? How far would I need to set this back onto my property (setback distance) so it’s not considered a fence? If it stays under 180cm (6 ft) high, I assume it wouldn’t require a building permit / planning permission? (Sorry if these are region-specific questions—feel free to ignore them.)
Best regards,
the creatively minded Kati
ypg schrieb:
There are such building kits, which are quite expensive... but theoretically old bricks can be used, although you already mentioned the transport issue.
This is similar to how tree regulations work under Lower Saxony’s neighborhood law, as far as I know. I had seen those kits too, they look nice – but they’re definitely too expensive for me. I would rather put something together from affordable standard bricks.
But if I really have to dig 80cm (31 inches) for that, I think I’ll probably give up and just go with the fence. 🙁
danixf schrieb:
Not necessarily as strict as Google suggests. The problem is that after several winters, the wall could simply collapse because the ground gets damp and then frost could cause damage. For our wall, which is about 10m (33 feet) long, it took three people a weekend. We borrowed a cement mixer from a neighbor, and the cement came with the bricks. Then we got two small trailer loads of gravel and started. I don’t think I’d want to build anything that long. Could it really collapse? Where would the bricks go if there are still other bricks underneath? I somehow can’t picture what kind of damage weather would actually cause to the wall.
ypg schrieb:
I don’t know what Google says, but for a 150mm (6 inch) thick wall and bigger (and not knee-high), I would stick to the frost-free 80cm (31 inches) foundation.
Otherwise, it could easily tip over quickly. That’s actually my biggest concern too, especially if I want to build it close to the property boundary. I don’t want it to fall the wrong way and destroy the neighbor’s corrugated metal shed. 😀
Although I would want to build it around the corner – kind of rounded. Like in the photo, so not the same height all around, but with the highest part near the shed (up to max 1.80m (5 feet 11 inches)) and then stepping down towards the end.
Schimi17917 Apr 2021 17:00kati1337 schrieb:
...
I have a strong urge to do some masonry work.
...And that coming from a woman! You’re probably always welcome on any construction site if that urge doesn’t fade away 🙂kati1337 schrieb:
...
a few square meters of cladding
...Square meters = square meee-ters or square meeeed-ders (with emphasis on the “dd/ddd”) That way it sounds more casual, like on a construction site
kati1337 schrieb:
...
the ruined look in the photo is visually intended.
...Maybe @haydee has some of her wall left over? As far as I remember, there are also some Roman muscle-bound gladiators with wine standing around there.kati1337 schrieb:
I also saw the kits, they look nice – but I’m sure they’re too expensive for me. I would rather cobble something together from cheap standard bricks.
...see above. Or: if natural stone is also an option, I’d consider asking at a quarry 🙂
(just a spontaneous thought ...)
HausiKlausi9 Apr 2021 00:10kati1337 schrieb:
I also saw the building kits; they look nice – but I’m sure they’re too expensive for me.At least in our area: classified ads! The beautiful old bricks for about 1 euro each (around 1 dollar) beat any kind of pseudo-vintage stuff. A solid foundation ensures durability, as mentioned above. Although in the past, much less was enough. Of course, it depends on the region and how harsh the winters are. Then just get started! You can easily find some basic things to keep in mind by searching online. But especially for your project (where it’s not strictly about energy regulations, structural engineering, or architectural design), don’t get too stressed. Just do it—it will turn out great!
HausiKlausi schrieb:
about 1 EUR eachUnfortunately, including mortar, it becomes quite expensive in bulk (mortar isn’t cheap either, especially if you buy it bit by bit in 20kg (44lb) bags from a hardware store due to storage limitations). I once bought all the small granite stones from a furniture store with a garden center during a clearance sale... made three trips there, almost trashed my car, then bought mortar and built a knee-high garden bed edging. No base or anything. That was quite a challenge! Best is to go with a trailer to a demolition site... 🙂HausiKlausi schrieb:
At least in our area: Classified ads! The nice old bricks for about 1 Euro each (1 euro per piece) beat any fake vintage stuff. A good foundation ensures durability, as mentioned above. Although in the past, it worked with much less. It probably depends on the region and how severe the winters are. Then just get started! You can google a few basic things to keep in mind. But especially for your project (where it’s not strictly about energy regulations, structural engineering, or architecture), don’t stress too much. Just do it, it will turn out great! Wow, 1 Euro per piece (1 euro per piece) is definitely already more than I want to spend. 😀 Or rather the upper limit. At one point, I just looked for new facing bricks with a slightly rustic look (which we also used on the house). That would be affordable.
For the foundation, I also asked a master bricklayer from the neighborhood, who saw it similar to you. Of course, it should ideally be frost-proof foundation, but for such a garden corner that would probably be overkill. He said if it really gets to -12°C (10°F) for several weeks and the ground freezes that deeply, the wall might suffer a bit or sink, but is that something you should expect? He advised me to dig a little, put in some concrete, and just get started.
ypg schrieb:
In bulk, unfortunately including mortar (which is not exactly cheap either, especially when you buy it little by little in 20kg (44 lbs) bags from the hardware store due to lack of storage), it’s quite an expensive affair.
I once bought up all the small granite stones at a furniture store with a garden center during a clearance sale... went there three times, almost wrecked my car each time, then bought mortar and built a knee-high garden bed edging. Without a base or anything. That was no joke! Best to bring a trailer to a demolition house... 🙂 I haven’t even checked the cost of mortar yet. We have a building materials supplier (which is also quite affordable) within walking distance. I was planning to buy from them because I think they can deliver it for a reasonable price.
Does your garden bed edging hold up well without a base? If it’s only knee-high, not much can go wrong, right?
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