How big does my brick gatepost need to be?

[frogbit]

Hi there, I am rebuilding a gatepost and, as i'm not a builder im not sure how strong my gatepost/wall needs to be.
originally there was a single skin brick wall with a reinforced concrete post.
i want to build a brick post that needs to support
a) the wooden gate as shown on one side (around 1.5m)
b) a low picket gate about 1m wide on the other side (1m high)
so that they wheelie bins can be taken straight out into the street without having to go through the yard.

at the moment there is a double brick foundation wall to build on. I was originally planning just to build a three brick wall (as in thumbnail pic at the bottom ) up to the height of around 12 courses, and attach wooden gate posts on either side. I am worried that this may not be enough?

If not, i was consideriing widening the foundations and building a four brick column with rebar in the centre and filling it with mortar/concrete if necessary.
Is something like this necessary or will my original plan be sufficient?



thanks in advance

 

[cjard]

I suppose you could frame your question another way; how happy would you be to rebuild the 3 brick version after a few years of the kids swinging on it/wind ripping it open/wife deciding she wants a wrought iron gate versus the minor extra cost/time requirement of building it once as the concrete reinforced version?

 

[frogbit]

I suppose you could frame your question another way; how happy would you be to rebuild the 3 brick version after a few years of the kids swinging on it/wind ripping it open/wife deciding she wants a wrought iron gate versus the minor extra cost/time requirement of building it once as the concrete reinforced version?

 

[frogbit]

cheers, for the reply..I had come to the same conclusion myself. A bit more work now but build it more future proof

 

[cjard]

Might want to remove any existing foundation, dig down a bit and cast a new one with the rebar sticking up out of it, brick round it and then fill with concrete..

 

[frogbit]

Might want to remove any existing foundation, dig down a bit and cast a new one with the rebar sticking up out of it, brick round it and then fill with concrete..

thanks, just done it this morning. letting it set then i will find out if my amateur brick laying skills are any good

 

[pilsbury]

Photo or it didn't happen!

 

[frogbit]

Photo or it didn't happen!

bloody hell, tough crowd in here

 

[pilsbury]

Just pulling your leg after a few beers! If it makes you feel any better, I've just had my "photo or it didn't happen" quote repeated to me in my floor slab post!

 

[frogbit]

Just pulling your leg after a few beers! If it makes you feel any better, I've just had my "photo or it didn't happen" quote repeated to me in my floor slab post!

ha ha , no problem..i'll have to try it out on another newbie some time

 

[cjard]

A better one (on site, I mean) is "hey, new guy, I bet you can't lift that bag of cement above your head"

Get someone behind him ready with a Stanley knife

 

[frogbit]

A better one (on site, I mean) is "hey, new guy, I bet you can't lift that bag of cement above your head"

Get someone behind him ready with a Stanley knife

probably even better if done in the rain, i'd imagine