Used Bricks & other question

Posted by pakdog on June 27, 2007, 7:45 pm

I want to build raised flower beds with used bricks -- mostly sandstone 4"
depth and various heights from 2" to 8". Any experienced people want to
comment? Want to know if this is a bad idea or what problems might come up
and how to avoid them. Assume I am cleaning off the old mortar as well as I
can.

Can a 2-foot wall that is 4" wide and 9 feet long hold or do I need to build
in supports? I'm thinking of doubling up the brick at key points along each
of the main walls of the flower beds (dimensions: 9' x 28").

Thanks,

Kevin

Posted by John McGaw on June 27, 2007, 8:09 pm

pakdog wrote:

> I want to build raised flower beds with used bricks -- mostly sandstone 4"
> depth and various heights from 2" to 8". Any experienced people want to
> comment? Want to know if this is a bad idea or what problems might come up
> and how to avoid them. Assume I am cleaning off the old mortar as well as I
> can.
>
> Can a 2-foot wall that is 4" wide and 9 feet long hold or do I need to build
> in supports? I'm thinking of doubling up the brick at key points along each
> of the main walls of the flower beds (dimensions: 9' x 28").
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin

A 2' serpentine wall might well hold if the soil drainage is good and
everything else is done perfectly. I've seen them free-standing at over
6' tall and I know that they have been done taller than that (not as a
retaining wall though) and they can be incredibly strong. And they are
beautiful. And they can use less brick than a standard doubled wall. The
one thing they are not, I'm afraid, is easy. A master mason could carry
it off once the concept was made clear but I would not encourage an
amateur to try it, especially as a first project.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

Posted by Meat Plow on June 27, 2007, 8:16 pm

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:45:03 -0700, pakdog wrote:

You'll spend forever trying to chip off all that old mortar. I don't find
old brick/block with leftover mortar that pleasing to the eye but that's
my personal preference. I've done a lot of my own landscaping with pavers,
shaped blocks and bricks designed for landscaping and it always looks so
nice when completed. I don't have a lot of $$$ but did what I could
afford over a few months last summer.

Posted by Bob F on June 28, 2007, 4:01 pm

> On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:45:03 -0700, pakdog wrote:

>> I want to build raised flower beds with used bricks -- mostly
>> sandstone 4"
>> depth and various heights from 2" to 8". Any experienced people
>> want to
>> comment? Want to know if this is a bad idea or what problems might
>> come up
>> and how to avoid them. Assume I am cleaning off the old mortar as
>> well as I
>> can.
>> Can a 2-foot wall that is 4" wide and 9 feet long hold or do I need
>> to build
>> in supports? I'm thinking of doubling up the brick at key points
>> along each
>> of the main walls of the flower beds (dimensions: 9' x 28").
>> Thanks,

> You'll spend forever trying to chip off all that old mortar. I don't
> find
> old brick/block with leftover mortar that pleasing to the eye but
> that's
> my personal preference. I've done a lot of my own landscaping with
> pavers,
> shaped blocks and bricks designed for landscaping and it always
> looks so
> nice when completed. I don't have a lot of $$$ but did what I could
> afford over a few months last summer.

I've gotten old bricks from people taking down old chimneys. The
mortor was generally so soft that you could break off thick chunks
with a tap of a hammer on a wide cold chisel, and the remains could be
easily washed off with my cheap electric pressure washer set for a fan
spray..

Bob

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on June 27, 2007, 9:49 pm

>I want to build raised flower beds with used bricks -- mostly sandstone 4"
> depth and various heights from 2" to 8". Any experienced people want to
> comment? Want to know if this is a bad idea or what problems might come up
> and how to avoid them. Assume I am cleaning off the old mortar as well as
> I
> can.
> Can a 2-foot wall that is 4" wide and 9 feet long hold or do I need to
> build
> in supports? I'm thinking of doubling up the brick at key points along
> each
> of the main walls of the flower beds (dimensions: 9' x 28").

What kind of base or footing will you be using? What type of climate?
freezing can put some force on the brick. IMO, you'd have long term
problems with a 2' high wall.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Building new steps with bricks.. a nuff nuff question or few ..	August 7, 2006, 8:44 pm
What to do with these bricks?	July 13, 2005, 12:36 am
How to cut bricks?	July 11, 2006, 2:47 pm
Loose bricks.	October 20, 2006, 11:30 pm
painting bricks	May 28, 2006, 7:58 pm
Bricks on a patio	June 24, 2006, 4:07 pm
cement on bricks	June 5, 2007, 11:46 pm
How to lay bricks neatly?	July 9, 2008, 9:51 pm
Replacing a few bricks at top of chimney	November 15, 2005, 2:51 pm
removing bricks from a wall?	November 21, 2005, 7:21 pm