Garden wall brick question

[jamesnewbury]

Hi. I am going to build a garden wall along the front boundary of my house which will turn in to butt onto the corner of my property. It'll be a low wall have four brick piers and I'll put a picket fence between each pier.

I've chosen an imperial sized brick called Chelmer Reds that match the size and colour of the my house.. They're F2 rated but I can't see any mention of its S rating. I had planned to do two courses underground level and two courses above in engineering bricks, which are a similar orange and would blend in. However, I don't know if they come in the 230mm length of the imperial Chelmer. The perps wouldn't line up.

I'd be very grateful if anyone could help with these questions. 1. Can you buy imperial sized engineering bricks? 2. Would the Chelmer Reds be okay below ground? 3. Would using Chelmer Reds for the whole wall and adding a DPC be a good idea (pavingexpert recommend it)?

I've been getting most of my information from the pavingexpert site, which recommends a dpc and two courses below ground level, but I've seen lots of bricklayers on YouTube having their wall foundations almost flush with ground level, so I'm not sure if pavingexpert are being a bit overkill. It'll save hundreds of pounds not having the lower courses.

Many thanks
James

 

[Wayners]

I thought dpc is not a good idea on garden wall. Don't they fall over too easy with dpc? And why have it anyway?
I know you can buy all sorts of sized bricks including imperial sized.

That's all I know

 

[starlightnursery]

James, thank you for providing such detailed information about your garden wall project. Let me address your questions and concerns:

Imperial sized engineering bricks are available, but they're less common than metric sizes. You may need to specially order them or source from specialist suppliers. This could affect your timeline and potentially the cost.

Chelmer Reds (F2 rated) would generally be okay below ground, especially if you add a damp-proof course (DPC). However, the ideal choice depends on your local soil conditions and moisture levels.

Using Chelmer Reds for the whole wall and adding a DPC is indeed a good idea. This approach, as recommended by Paving Expert, ensures consistent appearance and provides good protection against moisture.

Regarding foundation depth, there's often a difference between conservative recommendations (like Paving Expert's) and common practices (as seen in YouTube videos). Paving Expert's approach provides extra protection against moisture and frost heave, which is particularly important in certain climates and soil types.

For a low garden wall, a compromise might be to have at least one course below ground level, install a DPC, and ensure proper drainage. This balances cost savings with durability.

Remember to consider local building regulations, which may have specific requirements for garden walls.

Given the complexity of your project, it might be worth consulting a local builder or structural engineer. They can provide advice tailored to your specific location and soil conditions, ensuring your wall is both beautiful and durable.