Building a garden brick wall is not as difficult as it may seem. It’s just a matter of laying the bricks in the right order, and aligning them so that they fit together seamlessly.
Brick walls are one of the most popular garden features, as they provide a reliable and attractive backdrop for plants and flowers. Bricks can be laid in any shape or pattern, and their color is usually associated with a specific style or period. You can also create a brick wall using different materials, such as concrete blocks or stone. If you’re looking for ideas on how to build your own garden brick wall, this guide will give you all the information needed.
Building a garden brick wall is a lot easier than it sounds. Maybe you have a picture in your mind of it being brutally difficult, but it’s not. You can even do it yourself! All you need is some pre-planning and the following instructions to get started, and in no time at all, you will have erected a beautiful brick wall around your garden, without having to hire an expensive building contractor or mason.
Measure the Area to be Fenced
Measure the Area to Be Fenced
Measure the area that needs to be fenced, including the height of your fence, width and depth. It is helpful to measure around objects such as trees or other things that could affect your measurements. Measure the length of your garden wall as well as its overall area.
Create a Trench
The first step to building a brick wall is digging the trench. The trench needs to be wide enough to hold the bricks and deep enough that they won’t fall out of place. It also has to be straight, level and in line with the wall you are building. Once you’ve dug your trenches, it’s time for…
Position the First Layer of Bricks
Now you can start to build the wall. When positioning your bricks, make sure that:
- Each brick is in line with its neighbor
- Every row of bricks is level with every other row (and also with the ground if possible)
- Every course of bricks is level with each other and the ground below it
If you have a garden fence or wall nearby, try to make sure that your new brickwork matches them.
Level the First Layer of Bricks
The first layer is the most important one to get right, because it sets the tone for your wall. Begin with a spirit level and straightedge to ensure that all the bricks are straight. Use a plumb line or tape measure tied to a string taut between two nails driven into the ground at either end of your row, then use this as a guide for placing your bricks on top of each other: if they’re not even with each other, you’ll need to adjust their position before laying them down. Once you’re happy with how all of your rows look, use another spirit level on top of each row while someone else holds it steady in place until they’re sure they’re flat (be careful not to let anyone step on any exposed ends).
Apply Concrete Mix over the Base
The next step is applying the concrete mix over the base.
First, clean the surface of the bricks to remove any dust or dirt.
Next, use a trowel to apply a thin layer of concrete over the base and around each brick. Make sure this layer is level with each brick so that when you lay down more layers later on, they will be flush with one another. Leave this for about 24 hours for it to dry before moving on to step#4
Lay Two More Layers of Bricks, Making Sure They are Leveled and in Line with Each Other
Now it’s time to lay two more layers of bricks. It is important that these layers are leveled and in line with each other, so take your time and make sure you get this right before moving on to the next step.
In addition, because we’ve already laid one layer of bricks, there is no need for us to make sure our measurements are exact as we did at first (unless you want them to be). Additionally, remember that bricks come in different sizes—so if one brick doesn’t fit exactly where it should go or looks slightly out of place in comparison with its neighbor, don’t worry about it!
Add a Fourth Layer of Brick, Diagonally, to Create a Zigzag Pattern.
To create this pattern, you’ll need to add a fourth layer of brick. This time, however, use the same technique as with your first three layers: lay each brick on its side and then proceed to stack them up one by one.
After you’ve laid all of your fourth-layer bricks down in their new positions, you should have two rows that make up an X shape where they intersect at 90-degree angles. Then add another row above those two so that there are three rows across—and voila! You’ve just built your very own zigzag garden wall with straight edges around it!
Remove Excess Concrete from the Joints of the Bricks Using a Jointers Tool.
The first step in building a brick wall is to prepare the foundation.
A concrete base should be laid over the area you want to fence off, and this must be leveled before laying the brickwork.
Use a jointers tool to remove excess concrete from between each layer of bricks, while ensuring that they are still level with each other. The next thing you need to do is add another fourth layer of bricks diagonally across from where you started your zigzag pattern (in other words, at right angles). Measure out how long and wide your garden fencing needs to be, then position these first two or three layers accordingly so that they run along the length of your fence line.
Inspect that All the Bricks are Leveled, in Line, and Adhere to the Building Code Regulations for Fences.
Inspect that All the Bricks are Leveled, in Line, and Adhere to the Building Code Regulations for Fences.
- It is important to check that all the bricks are leveled so they do not create an uneven surface when laid down.
- It is also important to make sure that all of your bricks are lined up with each other and adhere to building code regulations for fences.
Leave it to cure for about 14 days.
After you finish building your brick wall, it’s time to leave it to cure for about 14 days. As with most DIY projects, the time it takes for your garden brick wall to cure depends on a lot of factors including:
- Weather conditions – if you live in an area where there are harsh weather conditions (such as high winds or excessive rain), this can affect how long it takes for your bricks and mortar to dry out. If you have no choice but to build in these conditions, you may need longer than 14 days before adding any other layers onto your garden brick wall.
- Type of bricks used – The thicker the brick is and/or the more porous its surface is, then the longer it will take for moisture in that particular area to evaporate out completely through capillary action (a process whereby liquid moves upward through extremely small spaces).
- Type of mortar used – A more permeable type of mortar will allow water vapor from inside each individual brick unit more easily escape into open air outside those units, thereby speeding up drying times compared with less permeable types such as concrete block cement based mortars which tend not let water vapor escape readily enough unless special measures have been taken beforehand (such as drilling holes into concrete blocks).
You will have a beautiful brick wall around your garden when done.
You will have a beautiful brick wall around your garden when done. You can add a gate to the wall, you can add a bench to the wall, you can add a water feature to the wall and you can also add trellis to it. This is an inexpensive way of making your garden look very beautiful so that all your neighbors will be envious of it and they will come over often just to see how good it looks.
Conclusion
To ensure the longevity of your brick wall, make sure that you follow all the instructions on the cement mix. This will help ensure the proper curing time needed for a sturdy and beautiful wall. Also, it is very important to keep in mind that your fence is legal before starting construction. We hope this article has been helpful to you in your garden building journey.
