Improving tired external driveway wall (possibly using brick slips). Any experience or ideas on options ?

[barnesy1977]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice and suggestions on how best to make good quite a long boundary wall. It's an old wall and doesn't look great, but I don't have the funds to completely remove it, and create a nice new one.

 

The total length is 100m (and for info, the ave height ~0.5m), and I've attached some photos.

 

I'm considering using brick slips as these are quite cheap to buy and the labour would be alot less than a complete rebuild (like this https://mybrickwall.co.uk/collections/brick-slips), then add some coping stones on top. Obviously any unstable sections would be dealt with.

 

Does anyone have any experience of this sort of project, or any other good, cost-effective suggestions ? Please - only friendly, helpful/constructive comments : - )

 

Many thanks in advance

[Conor]

Brick slips won't work as they are put on a flat surface with a thin bed of adhesive.

 

Also, that's a retaining wall, so there is always the risk of water coming through and pushing off any render or adhesives. I'd get the pressure washer out and give it a good clean. 

 

Some other suggestions, new coping stones would be easy, consider a contrasting colour to distract from the blocks.

 

Or, you could use strategic planting (climbers or overhanging plants) to camouflage the wall.

 

Lastly, you could fix timber to it and paint.

Edited August 15, 2022 by Conor

[Roundtuit]

What's it made out of?  Stone, or concrete/render made to look like stone?  I think I'd just pressure-wash it and repair the section that's moved a bit, and maybe change the coping stones. To use brick slips I suspect you'll have to render first to get a flat surface, and it doesn't really seem worth the hassle.

[Mr Punter]

The wall looks OK but the coping looks a bit shagged.  It looks like a nice driveway.  Find something else to spend your money on. 

[Russell griffiths]

Sunday morning with a pressure washer, I bet it looks loads better, get the damaged bit rebuilt. 

Got to be worth a few hours to see how it comes up. 

 

[barnesy1977]

Thanks for your replies. It's a concrete wall, but it's partly the miserable dull grey colour that makes the whole house/driveway look tired. We'll try a jetwash anyway to see what that does - I know it can work wonders sometimes. Would still be grateful of any other solutions or experience of similar projects incase jetwashing doesn't work

[markc]

Pressure washer, hosepipe ban?

masonry paint for a white or coloured finish?

[barnesy1977]

Would masonry paint defo work/stay on ok without any problems ? I'm just asking the question really as I have no experience with this sort of things at all.

 

We've had a couple of people over to look at work on it...one didn't think painting it would be good (rightly or wrongly) and the other suggested those Brick Slips.

 

 

 

[markc]

1 minute ago, barnesy1977 said:

Would masonry paint defo work/stay on ok without any problems ? I'm just asking the question really as I have no experience with this sort of things at all.

 

We've had a couple of people over to look at work on it...one didn't think painting it would be good (rightly or wrongly) and the other suggested those Brick Slips.

 

 

 

Good clean to get good adhesion and paint will stay on for a lot of years, also easy to freshen up with a re coat. Whatever you use will collect dirt because of location

[Roundtuit]

7 minutes ago, barnesy1977 said:

Would masonry paint defo work/stay on ok without any problems ?

I doubt it. As pointed out above, its a retaining wall so you'll always have moisture coming through from the back.  It will be ok if you're happy to give it a scrape off and repaint on a regular basis though.  I used to do the concrete blocks in a light-well every year, but that was only an hours job...

Edited August 16, 2022 by Roundtuit
typo

[Gone West]

1 hour ago, barnesy1977 said:

Would masonry paint defo work/stay on ok without any problems ? I'm just asking the question really as I have no experience with this sort of things at all.

Unlikely. You really need specialist paint for a concrete retaining wall. I used Durbocem on an old concrete block retaining wall in the garden last year and it still looks as good as when it was first painted. There are other manufacturers that have good reviews.

 

https://andrewscoatings.co.uk/shop/interior-exterior-walls/damp-mould/durbocem/

 

https://www.brewers.co.uk/product/BN6065E

[Iceverge]

You're inviting a world of misery on yourself by making the wall more noticeable. As it's beside the drive any clean finish will get filthy immediately and then demand constant upkeep. Before you get tempted try to paint a bit of board white and stand it beside the drive for a few wet days. It'll soon put you off. 

 

As said above straighten out the coping stones with a string and a bucket of morter. Give the drive a good brush. Most of our impression of tidiness comes from a neat "floor"!  

 

Consider a line of flowers/shrubs on top if you want a bit of colour. 

[markc]

2 hours ago, barnesy1977 said:

Thanks for your replies. It's a concrete wall, but it's partly the miserable dull grey colour that makes the whole house/driveway look tired. We'll try a jetwash anyway to see what that does - I know it can work wonders sometimes. Would still be grateful of any other solutions or experience of similar projects incase jetwashing doesn't work

Sorry folks, I really must read a thread before commenting, I saw this and thought it was a poured concrete retaining wall, looking back I now see it’s a block wall and giving way in a number of places. Forget paint or slips, as others have said, good clean and tidy up or you are looking at pulling it out and replacing altogether

[saveasteading]

It's OK. leave it. If people can't tell if it is concrete or stone then it can't be too bad.

 

I agree with jet wash , repair, and distract, Your beautiful plants will get all the attention.

 

I would also drill some drain holes through the mortar to let water out and reduce pressure that may lean the wall over.  as is probably the cause in the last picture.

Try through the mortar at the top of the perpend, perhaps every 2nd or 3rd block, and that should be quick and easy.

Drill bit as big as the mortar will allow.