Drystacked Black Limeston Wall - How to shore up?

[uptoyou]

Hi all,

Hope someone can help.

I have am dry-stacking a decorative wall around a pizza oven, and was intending to back mortar it for strength, but I'm now not sure that it will do a lot of good?!?

Can anyone advise what the best course of action is please - completely fill the cavity with cement/fill with some other...something/any options?

Wall will be around 4' high. Bricks are 4" deep, cavity varies between 2" - 3". Ties in blocks.

Top of wall will be finished with a limestone slab sitting on the blocks and the bricks.

 

[uptoyou]

Anyone...

 

[cdbe]

If you have the patience you could could drill, plug and put one or two long screws in the back of each block then fill the cavity with a mix of sharp sand/cement or concrete and it will tie it all together.

 

[uptoyou]

Hi cdbe, I was hoping not to have to cement/concrete it as under the oven is a wood store, and the blocks are already damp most of the time and I'm thinking filling with cement will just cause more damp?

 

[uptoyou]

What about filling the void with pea shingle (or similar). Will drain any water and prevent bricks being pushed back?

 

[uptoyou]

Or layer with pea shingle up to the first row of ties, mortar around the ties only, add another layer of pea shingle to the next row of ties...repeat...?