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Hello LJ experts,

I have a client who would like some retaining walls for planting up in rendered blockwork, as she thinks that's cheaper than brick. Is this so? Also, if we use rendered blockwork, will railway sleepers or other wood work as a coping, or will it stain? I presume it would need a dpc between coping and the wall.

I am wary of this finish, yet I see wood being used as a seat in rendered walls.

Thanks - hope you can help!

Jane

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  • Hi Jane,

    Blocks at the moment work out more than bricks for a m2 of wall.
    I am assuming you are building double skin so that the moisture in the beds does not blow you render on the front wall when it pulls the moist through.
    I cannot see a rendered block wall being cheaper than a brickwall if it is built well as there is more materials and time involved.
    Make sure you use external quality beading and that whatever you use for the coping has sufficent over hang so that the drip edge doesn't bleed down the wall.
    I would avoid using timber as a coping as it will want to move with the seasons and never really settle down.
    Hopefully some food for thought.

  • As above with copings. You could consider buff coloured blocks which would save you the cost of rendering or fair face/paint grade concrete blocks which could be painted...

  • Thanks both of you - that's really useful. NB: I am a bit late replying as I didn't realise I wasn't getting alerts when you posted something.

    I think brick would look good as the external wall to the street is brick and so is the bottom of the house.3314635563?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024  The top of the house is rendered in cream.  This is one of the options I have done.  The garden's north facing so I have even more doubts about rendering..algae etc.   Now to consider another material for coping - of course stone would be ideal but I think too costly for the budget.  I shall look at Brett's etc.

    Thanks again - Jane

  • For me block is much quicker to build with and finish with a self coloured render, alternatively a dressed concrete brick is half the price of clay, dense/solid, and won't blow. Can also face external/pavement with brick and internal block if it helps on cost. never used a timber cope but if using solid brick these can be run as a header course so no need for cope.
  • Thanks Ray. I'd quite like a contrasting coping but will explore what it looks like with just brick. Or I could use brick as the coping on a rendered wall.

    Jane

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