Leaning garden wall. Would a 2 brick pillar be enough?

[TheMitchells]

I have a longish (20m?) wall alongside our garden.  Its 50 years old, and we have noticed it is starting to lean - actually, it started a few years ago but it is noticably worse now.  The soil is clay and there are some largish shrubs on the outside, mainly small stuff on the inside.  so movement is likely and i am thinking of removing a couple of the larger trees/shrubs (self sown buddleja)

 

As you can see from the photos the bottom half is full brick and the top is half brick (garage end) and cement holey blocks (gate end).  The holey blocks end are not too bad, though there are cracks in alot of the mortar.  But the brick top half is really bad and also full of cracks.

 

This last photo above is on the outside fo the wall, where it has come away from the garage. its almost 2 inches at the top.

It only needs to last another few years as i have planted a hornbeam hedge on the outer perimeter of the garden so once that has grown enough to forma  screen, we can take the wall out.  Also the blocky end is likely to go once we do the kitchen extension, again in a few years time.  up to the yellow arrow.

The photo below shows the outside of the garden before i replaced the box hedge with a hornbeam one.  But it is only 2-3 ft high at the moment so will take a few more eyars to enclose the whole side garden.

 hope the photo's help give the idea. The shrubs have been kept a similar size but on clay, maybe we need remove them?

 

I have asked for a quote from a local brickie to build 2 supports, in the worst parts, a third in from each end of the brick top.  He suggsted 2 brick pillar, similar to this, i think.

Would this be enough to support it? He said it would need at least 2 foot hole for foundation to avaoid any movement, which sounds reasonable.

 

 

 

[ProDave]

Crucial question.  Is there a difference in ground level between the 2 sides?  i.e. is it a retaining wall?

 

If it is a retaining wall it is the ground on the higher side pushing the wall over.  If not then it is inadequate foundations that are subsiding.

 

If the plan is to take the wall down in a few years I would do nothing, and if it starts to lean a lot more take the top half off earlier than planned.

[jayc89]

We have similar, 30m of boundary wall, probably been there 100 years, but it's got a hell of a lean to it. We've been here 4 years now and it's not moved much in that time, so I'm hoping it holds on in there for another couple of years yet!

[TheMitchells]

The soil level is probably about the same on both sides and I doubt the foundations are that good.  Its on clay with the shrubs affecting one side so i doubt that helps.  The chap who came to take a look has quoted nearly £3k to build two buttresses, digging out the foundations and tying it into the wall.  Eek! 😬 Not something we plan to pay.  not for something we intend to knock down in a few years time.  So i am now thinking of getting someone in to dig out a couple of holes (where I planned to put the buttresses) and I shall build myself a diy buttress with some heavy concrete blocks just to help stop any more leaning.  I can do basic bricklaying (block laying) and it may be enough for the time we need.  I'm too old and knackered to dig the holes myself, especially in clay🙁

Hubby was thinking of digging a hole and bracing the wall with a sleeper we have but i dont think we could attach anything to it without the wall cracking further - so what would stop the sleeper sliding up and off the top?  Unless it went in quite a way into the soil? 

We shall think of something. 

[Canski]

How about a vertical RSJ against the existing wall with a pillar built around it to conceal it ? I had similar a few years ago when the groundworker cocked up with the foundations that were sliding downhill into a ditch. 

[TheMitchells]

what about a vertical concrete lintel, 5 ft, against the wall and buried 2 ft into the ground with concrete around it, simialr to a fence post? 

https://www.diy.com/departments/expamet-concrete-lintel-l-1500mm-w-100mm/150794_BQ.prd

 

[Mr Punter]

I don't think it looks too bad.  I think you could leave it as is and it will stay standing for another 20 years.

[TheMitchells]

  On 14/02/2025 at 17:36, Mr Punter said:

I don't think it looks too bad.  I think you could leave it as is and it will stay standing for another 20 years.

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that would be nice but the lean is getting worse and worsening.  So it may stay there till we need to remove it.  But unlikely.  however, waiting tosee what happens - thats another option.  And at the moment, it is likely to be the best option. 😃

[Mr Punter]

  On 15/02/2025 at 10:05, TheMitchells said:

that would be nice but the lean is getting worse and worsening.  So it may stay there till we need to remove it.  But unlikely.  however, waiting tosee what happens - thats another option.  And at the moment, it is likely to be the best option. 😃

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If it has only moved 2 inches in 50 years, how can you be sure?  It is probably just that it has been more apparent now the shrubs are cut back.  Measure and record the gap every 6 months, then you will know for sure.  If it moves more than 5mm in 6 months I would be surprised.