I'm gonna build a wall

[GM]

Yes, nothing on the scale of Mr Trumps. Just a 750mm high brick wall with a pier each end at the front of my house. Anyone had experience of building over tree roots? I don't want to damage the roots, so I was thinking of a concrete pier each side of the root and span a lintel across as part of the foundation. Something similar to this which I found on the web. Thanks in advance!...

 

[fossyant]

How many roots - these have a tendancy to grow and may disturb your wall after few years. Any option of cutting them out ?

 

[GM]

How many roots - these have a tendancy to grow and may disturb your wall after few years. Any option of cutting them out ?

There's one root that seems to be the problem, it's cracked the original wall, hence the new one. I definitely don't want to cut any roots out, it not my tree. I think I'd be in trouble with the council if I did.

 

[slowmotion]

There's one root that seems to be the problem, it's cracked the original wall, hence the new one. I definitely don't want to cut any roots out, it not my tree. I think I'd be in trouble with the council if I did.

Stop the footings either side of the roots (allow for future root expansion) and then bridge over the gap with a lovely sensuous arch, comme ca....

...O

oh la la...

 

[sheddy]

Will you be ok with people sitting on it ?

 

[slowmotion]

Will you be ok with people sitting on it ?

…….

or smoking on it.....

 

[GM]

Stop the footings either side of the roots (allow for future root expansion) and then bridge over the gap with a lovely sensuous arch, comme ca....

...O View attachment 527298

oh la la...

Wow. I like that, a work of art! I don't think mine will be as grand as that.

 

[slowmotion]

Wow. I like that, a work of art! I don't think mine will be as grand as that.

I've never tried an arch, but I think with some simple timber formwork, it's pretty simple.

 

[GM]

Will you be ok with people sitting on it ?

Haven't thought of that, might have to put some railings on it!

 

[PeteXXX]

Haven't thought of that, might have to put some railings on it!

Half round coping stones will stop passers-by sleeping on it..

 

[slowmotion]

Who wants to sleep on top of a wall that's probably little more than a foot wide???

 

[Rocky]

Haven't thought of that, might have to put some railings on it!

Watch out for Tulisa cycling by and deciding to stop and stare through the railings.......(not that you or I have ever done that to her)

 

[Dayvo]

Who wants to sleep on top of a wall that's probably little more than a foot wide???

Every cat in the street, I suppose.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Having never laid a brick in my life, (yes I know that's clearly obvious), I built this wall around 14 years ago, and it's still standing, and more importantly retaining what it needs to retain, so I say go for it.

I didn't have any roots to contend with though.

I actually bought a BRICKY to use, but because I didn't have a cavity in it I couldn't use it as it couldn't lie flat on top of the brick course, if that makes sense. So apart from setting a string level at the first course I ended up doing it all by eye.

Will it win any prizes? Nope. Do I care a jot? Absolutely nope

 

[slowmotion]

Every cat in the street, I suppose.

Is that a smoking cat, or a mere feline cat?