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How to construct a curvy wall...

Hello everyone,

I have a design client who wants to have a low wall to edge my curvy planting border.  It would be white rendered - he's keen on mosaic on it like Gaudi - see picture below.  I said that in concrete it would cost a lot - is that right?  His budget for the garden is £20K.  Is there an easier way of constructing the wall?  Is it possible to use blockwork and pad it out somehow or is that not feasible/durable?  We could have steel but that's not white...

I am also thinking of a water feature with a curved back to go with it.  This would be a long shallow curve - could that be done in blockwork or is it easier in concrete?

Thanks for any ideas on this.

Regards,

Jane

Gaudi style wall.pdf

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  • From that picture and not knowing the scale or tightness of the curves required, I would get a decent bricklayer to look at it. A fiddly job but perfectly possible. If you think about block paving with curved edges what's really the difference? Plus you have the render to as you say pad it out a little.Sorry no idea on cost. Have to say as well that regarding the wall in the photo, by the time you'd made the formwork for the concrete you could have built it twice with bricks.

  • bit out of my league a wall like that but if you did it in concrete it would need reiforcement bars in it and a good shuttering joiner to do the shutter 

    you could do it in concreate blocks cutting angles on the ends and halve blocks ect daube out the angels  before rendering its quite a lot of work and will cost a pritty penny 

  • Hi - thanks John and David for responding to my plea for help.  I agree it would be costly to use shuttering and a bit awkward to use bricks or blocks, but not impossible.  I've found via APL that there is a great product call Flex Blocks that can be used to make curved walls - made from recycled plastic, you join it up like Lego, then pump the concrete through it and it leaks through holes to make a smooth surface.  Much lighter than blocks or bricks and saves a lot of lifting!  Arbour Landscaping Solutions sell it.  https://www.arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk/solid-wall-retaining-blo...

    So I think I'll recommend that to the client.  Good for curved water features too.

    Thanks for your help.

    Jane

    • just had a look at them Jane not come accross them before but it looks like it might be right for you i do not think the averige DIY would be capable of doing it unless they understand about shuttering and concreate retaing walls but its a good find 

      • Hello David,

        Yes, definitely not a DIY job!  He will use a landscaper.

        Jane

         

  • This could easily be built using a soft style stock brick. You would roughly cut the brickwork to the shape required and then shape with plaster. For the corbels you can lay bricks sideways overlapping the main structure and then smooth out with plaster.

    • john when you say plaster do you meen sand and cement render as you cannot use plaster outside 

      • Hi Sorry 

        I should have said rendering with a 3-1 mix of plastering Sand and Cement . It will take several coats to build out over the corbels to shape them.

        • Thanks John, that's useful to know we could do it in stock bricks.  When you say corbels, where would they be?  Supporting some kind of coping? 

           

          • The corbels are the protruding part of the wall. You just need to  turn one course of bricks sideways and leave the headers  sticking out to the distance required.

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