I need to build a block wall about 4 feet high as a boundary wall between my house and my neighbours'. The present fence is on the verge of collapse and he doesn't like wood so...
My problem is that I am worried about how I tie 4" medium density blocks into brickwork, worse, preexisting brickwork. How do you tie a block wall into a two-brick pier? I see these galvanised mesh ties exist but surely they're only good for new work. Is it practical to rake out old mortar and shove one end of a mesh tie into prexisting brickwork?
I'm thinking there may be something I can screw into the existing pier, then cement into the block work, but the only things I've seen look like cavity wall ties.
| Hello, | | I need to build a block wall about 4 feet high as a boundary wall between my | house and my neighbours'. | The present fence is on the verge of collapse and he doesn't like wood so...
You may put whatever you like on *your* side of the boundary.
Really? They don't look very heavy-duty. I thought that with a wall and all, something chunkier might be in order. Still, I expect I'll have to use one per course so that give me five ties at the interface at least. I'll also have a look at the door cramp thingy suggestion. I know I can build whatever I like on my side but I don't actually object to the idea of a wall, and having the wall on the boundary centreline gives me a little more space to open my car door!
I know you can get similar items from Wickes (cost £19.99 - designed to tie brick walls together) which would allow you to tie a wall section between a pair of piers (the Wickes pack includes two sections of fixing). So depending on how many piers you have it's going to be expensive. Presumably if your neighbour is objecting to wood, I suppose they're paying half?
Personally I'd think that bare blocks between brick piers would look far uglier than wood.
They'll work fine; that's specifically what they're for.
If the original wall is in really naff condition, it might be worth raking out the old mortar around the region where it will be adjoining your new wall, and repointing, so you have firm anchoring area for the ties (do that at least a few days beforehand, so it will be rock solid by the time you start drilling.)
The blocks will not be left bare, they will be rendered, and either pebbledashed or roughcast, then probably painted white. The top will have slate coping stones or will be rounded over. The existing boundary walls are pebbledashed so I am taking my cue from them. I too cannot stand bare blockwork.
In a perfect world I would put a wooden fence up, but there have been some cross flooding issues between my drive and my neighbour's, during torrential downpours. It only happens once in a blue moon, and I've taken what steps I can to alleviate the flooding, but in the worst case the sewers will overload and backfeed my gully, which then fountains water and more undesireable stuff into my drive. Essentially, I have no escape route for the water then and it crosses over to my neighbour's drive ( his gully would be fountaining shit 'n stuff too, but he seems to think that having to cope with a bit of overspill from mine is beneath his dignity ). Hence the desire for a wall. Also he is an old git who goes for low-maintenance every time, so his house is festooned with upvc and pebbledash, so he doesn't like timber, 'cause he might have to paint it every five years!
I am stoical enough to take all this on the chin and build a wall. If I don't, he might, and I can guarantee he'll build an ugly block wall, and I'll get the non-fair face.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions and links everyone, I quite like the plates that bolt to an existing wall, then you clip tabs to the plates as needed. I shall investigate all options,
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