Cladding block wall on terraced garden

[matthelliwell]

I have a small terraced area at the back of my garden. The bottom two level s of the terracing are slabbed over so you can put furniture on them. Howev er, they are ugly grey slabs. Similarly the two walls below the flat areas are made up breeze block and cast blocks of some sort, also ugly and grey.

There are also some steps up the terraces and raised borders around the law n at the bottom that have constructed out of the same materials.

It all looks pretty solid and reasonably well put together, it is just very ugly.

I've had a quote for cladding the whole lot in Indian stone and that was wa y outside my price range so I'm looking for cheaper diy alternatives.

The horizontal areas, I could lay new slightly nicer looking slabs. Are the re any reasons not just to cement them over the top of the existing ones an d save myself the cost and effort of disposing of the old ones? Either way, no doubt there would be a fair bit of cutting involved so I'd have to look at how to cut them.

For the two vertical slopes can anyone suggest what I could use to over the m? Ideally I'd like something to tie in with the slabs rather than planting or wood but I'm not sure how easy it would be to effectively build a new w all in front of the existing wall.

To give you an idea of the size, according to the quote, the flagged area n eeds 63 square metres of stone and the walls need 30 square metres.

Thanks

Matt

[harryagain]

There are also some steps up the terraces and raised borders around the lawn at the bottom that have constructed out of the same materials.

It all looks pretty solid and reasonably well put together, it is just very ugly.

I've had a quote for cladding the whole lot in Indian stone and that was way outside my price range so I'm looking for cheaper diy alternatives.

The horizontal areas, I could lay new slightly nicer looking slabs. Are there any reasons not just to cement them over the top of the existing ones and save myself the cost and effort of disposing of the old ones? Either way, no doubt there would be a fair bit of cutting involved so I'd have to look at how to cut them.

For the two vertical slopes can anyone suggest what I could use to over them? Ideally I'd like something to tie in with the slabs rather than planting or wood but I'm not sure how easy it would be to effectively build a new wall in front of the existing wall.

To give you an idea of the size, according to the quote, the flagged area needs 63 square metres of stone and the walls need 30 square metres.

Thanks

Matt

You can get dyes a to apply to the concrete, might brighten the place up. Or a few plant tubs etc.

Or apply a cowshit wash which encourages lichens etc to grow. Or alternatively power wash it down, it may well look completely different. Colours may appear.

[Nthkentman]

I have a small terraced area at the back of my garden. The bottom two levels of the terracing are slabbed over so you can put furniture on them. However, they are ugly grey slabs. Similarly the two walls below the flat areas are made up breeze block and cast blocks of some sort, also ugly and grey.

There are also some steps up the terraces and raised borders around the lawn at the bottom that have constructed out of the same materials.

It all looks pretty solid and reasonably well put together, it is just very ugly.

I've had a quote for cladding the whole lot in Indian stone and that was way outside my price range so I'm looking for cheaper diy alternatives.

The horizontal areas, I could lay new slightly nicer looking slabs. Are there any reasons not just to cement them over the top of the existing ones and save myself the cost and effort of disposing of the old ones? Either way, no doubt there would be a fair bit of cutting involved so I'd have to look at how to cut them.

For the two vertical slopes can anyone suggest what I could use to over them? Ideally I'd like something to tie in with the slabs rather than planting or wood but I'm not sure how easy it would be to effectively build a new wall in front of the existing wall.

To give you an idea of the size, according to the quote, the flagged area needs 63 square metres of stone and the walls need 30 square metres.

Matt, For the horizontal areas have you considered "Artificial" grass ? There are many builders merchants with deals going on at the moment (Travis, Selco, Jewson etc) which might give the areas you mention another dimension and a splash of colour. Best part is that it doesn't need cutting and feels nice under the feet !

As for the vertical planes, as you say Indian stone is very expensive, so why not clad in traditional slate or speak to a local secondhand roof tile supplier and look out his broken waste etc and "Mosaic" it ?

[matthelliwell]

SWMBO has ruled that out for the lawn but I might be able to convince her about it for these areas. I'm not sure how it would stay down but no doubt there is a way.

That's a good idea. Nice and easy to handle and would go well with the planting designs we're thinking about.

Matt

[matthelliwell]

I'll have to investigate that.

More grey will appear I suspect!

Matt

[David.WE.Roberts]

Have you priced up decking (if you like that kind of thing)?

Decking can be laid directly over a stone slab - I think the best way would be thin bearers then the decking to get some drainage.

You can use the same approach for the vertical walls. Screw bearers to the blocks, then screw the decking to the bearers.

Alternatively, just paint the walls with outdoor wall paint - that is probably the cheapest option. If they are bright and colourful and cheerful they will lift the whole area and you may find that the grey stone slabs (especially after power washing) look O.K.

Cheers

Dave R

[Jonathan]

els of the terracing are slabbed over so you can put furniture on them. How ever, they are ugly grey slabs. Similarly the two walls below the flat area s are made up breeze block and cast blocks of some sort, also ugly and grey .

awn at the bottom that have constructed out of the same materials.

way outside my price range so I'm looking for cheaper diy alternatives.

here any reasons not just to cement them over the top of the existing ones and save myself the cost and effort of disposing of the old ones? Either wa y, no doubt there would be a fair bit of cutting involved so I'd have to lo ok at how to cut them.

hem? Ideally I'd like something to tie in with the slabs rather than planti ng or wood but I'm not sure how easy it would be to effectively build a new wall in front of the existing wall.

needs 63 square metres of stone and the walls need 30 square metres.

I have just paid £1,100 for 30 square metres of slate slabs.

Jonathan

[fred]

els of the terracing are slabbed over so you can put furniture on them. How ever, they are ugly grey slabs. Similarly the two walls below the flat area s are made up breeze block and cast blocks of some sort, also ugly and grey .

awn at the bottom that have constructed out of the same materials.

way outside my price range so I'm looking for cheaper diy alternatives.

here any reasons not just to cement them over the top of the existing ones and save myself the cost and effort of disposing of the old ones? Either wa y, no doubt there would be a fair bit of cutting involved so I'd have to lo ok at how to cut them.

hem? Ideally I'd like something to tie in with the slabs rather than planti ng or wood but I'm not sure how easy it would be to effectively build a new wall in front of the existing wall.

needs 63 square metres of stone and the walls need 30 square metres.

You could ask Banksie to do a job on the walls I suppose.

Personally I would fix trellis panels to them. You don't have to have plant s on it, The French have a good way with trellis on blank walls. Different shapes and sizes. Some even with a three dimensional effect. Have a look at the garden wall in this appartment

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