Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:07 am
As a new member to this forum, may I say thanks Tony for producing and maintaining such an excellent, informative and well structured website. A lesson to those web designers who model their sites using bulky code, unnecessary flash and content of little substance. Keep up the good work.
I am about to embark on a small project to build a 6.5x2m flowerbed in an elongated ‘U’ shape where each side is about 0.6m wide and using three/four courses of Bradstone Milldale blocks. Having read your page relating to the construction of walls (http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm), I am proposing to lay a 150mm deep concrete footing where the wall is to be located.
Questions:
1. Should I still allow 100mm spread either side on the footing for this type of block or can this be reduced and by what amount?
2. You advise the footing to be a minimum of 150mm below the surface to provide frost cover. In this instance it would require at least one course of Milldale to be effectively buried, which is about £140. As these blocks are not cheap, is this still necessary for the footing to be at this depth for this type of wall. If so, any thoughts as to other options to minimise this cost or is it a case of ‘bite the bullet’?
3. Bradstone advise the use of either their adhesive or a 3-4 part building sand/1 cement mortar mix. Have you any other recommended mortar mixes for this type of block?
4. The project includes relaying my patio that was constructed over 20 years ago by the house builder as the 600x600x50mm concrete slabs have sunk over the years. I will be following your excellent advice elsewhere on the site regarding base preparation, laying etc. I am proposing a 1:60 fall to allow water to drain off directly into a 150mm wide gravel strip between the patio and the above mentioned flower bed. The ground appears to be sufficiently porous to allow water to dissipate quickly, but would a gravel barrier of say 150mm deep help?
Many thanks for your time.
I am about to embark on a small project to build a 6.5x2m flowerbed in an elongated ‘U’ shape where each side is about 0.6m wide and using three/four courses of Bradstone Milldale blocks. Having read your page relating to the construction of walls (http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm), I am proposing to lay a 150mm deep concrete footing where the wall is to be located.
Questions:
1. Should I still allow 100mm spread either side on the footing for this type of block or can this be reduced and by what amount?
2. You advise the footing to be a minimum of 150mm below the surface to provide frost cover. In this instance it would require at least one course of Milldale to be effectively buried, which is about £140. As these blocks are not cheap, is this still necessary for the footing to be at this depth for this type of wall. If so, any thoughts as to other options to minimise this cost or is it a case of ‘bite the bullet’?
3. Bradstone advise the use of either their adhesive or a 3-4 part building sand/1 cement mortar mix. Have you any other recommended mortar mixes for this type of block?
4. The project includes relaying my patio that was constructed over 20 years ago by the house builder as the 600x600x50mm concrete slabs have sunk over the years. I will be following your excellent advice elsewhere on the site regarding base preparation, laying etc. I am proposing a 1:60 fall to allow water to drain off directly into a 150mm wide gravel strip between the patio and the above mentioned flower bed. The ground appears to be sufficiently porous to allow water to dissipate quickly, but would a gravel barrier of say 150mm deep help?
Many thanks for your time.
