How to lay bricks at an angle (for a triangular veg bed)?

[DIYNotIan]

Hi all

I've tried looking on line for advice on this but haven't come up with anything; possibly because I'm not using the right terms (it's all new to me). So it's onto you helpful people to either offer some advice or point me in the right direction where I can find some.

I'm planning on building a low wall for a vegetable bed. It will only be about 3 or 4 bricks high. I want it in a kind of triangle shape like this:

But I've no idea how the bricks would need to be laid at the angled corners (where the red arrows point). What are the options?

Would appreciate any help or pointers. Cheers,

Max

 

[Newboy]

Squints!

http://eshop.solentbrick.org.uk/Web...399/C482/0DE9/CC76/0A0C/05E8/F78E/Squint1.jpg

 

[DIYNotIan]

Thanks for the super quick response.

I should have perhaps added that we are using old reclaimed bricks, so any new brick (or even just non-matching) would likely stick out like a sore thumb.

But maybe the bricks can be cut to the correct angles? I'll have to post a picture of the bricks in the morning to see how "cuttable" they are...

Cheers

 

[Newboy]

Cut bricks is an option or how about making a feature of the corners using blue (engineering) squints?

 

[stuart45]

There are a few ways of doing the angle. Mitre the bricks is one method, or you can make a squint by cutting out a section of the brick and resin bonding the 2 pieces together. This is done by some brick manufacturers.
You can also let the bricks overhang at the angles.

 

[^woody^]

 

[DIYNotIan]

Sorry, didn't get round to taking that photo of the bricks today but will do so tomorrow...

Thanks for the other suggestions in the meantime.

So, if I cut the brick I will have to "resin bond" them (I'll need to look that up - is it easily done/readily available?) rather then just use mortar?
Cheers

 

[Newboy]

Resin bonding is used to attach a good face to the cut brick - standard mortar is used to build the wall.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Ooops - the days slipped passed! Here are some photos of those bricks (finally!).

Do they look like they'll be ok to cut?

And whilst on the subject, what kind of bricks are these? We don't want to use a different brick at the top (can't remember what they're called), but will these be ok without protection? I imagine so but thougth it best to check.

Many thanks

 

[^woody^]

See how long the glue will last in a damp freezing flower bed.

 

[DIYNotIan]

I wouldn't even know what glue to use to be honest.

Would CT1 be any good? Any other suggestions?

 

[^woody^]

Glue, resin whatever. It's not designed for permanently damp and freezing conditions.

If you don't want to bond the corner, then you are better off having a straight joint with ties or mesh on the bed joints to hold it together.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Glue, resin whatever. It's not designed for permanently damp and freezing conditions.

I haven't, but I've read of people using CT1 on boats and in ponds, which can often be freezing and are most definitely damp!

Would be interested to hear if anyone has used CT1 for something like this and/or has recommendations as to what can be used that won't be a problem in freezing/damp conditions.

If you don't want to bond the corner

When you say "bond the corner", do you mean as per in the picture you posted above?

...then you are better off having a straight joint with ties or mesh on the bed joints to hold it together.

I'm not sure what you mean here... Sorry for being slow, but this is all new to me.

One thing I should add if I haven't already, the wall will only be two bricks high at one end, and 3-4 bricks high at the other.

Huge thanks for the help.

 

[SimonH2]

No expert, by a long way ...
Do like in Woody's sketch above, but cut off triangular corner pieces to fill the gaps. You'll have what looks like a continuous vertical joint, but behind that the bricks have triangular overlaps. Keep the joints (between the triangular bits and the opposite brick) tight, and it should look fairly neat - not quite link squints, but fairly neat.