Brick or sleepers?

[J_N30]

Evening all,

I'm laying a slab path up the edge of the grass and to the door, Im going to need a retainer wall all be it a small one.

The wall is going to curve round to the left hand side of door to accomodate some steps.

Would you use a brick wall or railway sleepers? Obviously sleepers would be easier for me as im no bricky but wondering what peoples opinions are.

Heres a picture

cheers

 

[Richard C]

Never really understood what is the attraction for putting contaminated railway sleepers in a garden

 

[r896neo]

sleepers are obviously straight-ish therefore do not work well as a curved edge unless laid on end.

I would get kerb units laid on concrete, haunched and dry butt them together. No mess if your trowel work isn't too hot.

Something like these

http://www.acheson-glover.com/home-owner/wp-content/uploads/Header_Kerbs01.jpg

 

[roughcaster]

Never really understood what is the attraction for putting contaminated railway sleepers in a garden

True!
In hot weather, bitumin leeches out of old railway sleepers as well. If you get that on your clothes/skin,, it's not good, even worse if there's kids around. Have a go at building a small brick wall, you'll enjoy it.
I think the pic/link that "r896neo" put up looks great,,, a nice finish to the chipped border/garden path.

 

[J_N30]

Looks like bricks it is then. Will a single skin be ok? The wall won't be very high and I'll have to stagger it higher to the door as the garden slopes.

What could I put on top of the walk to finish it off? Black brick Mabe?

 

[r896neo]

if you don't fancy the kerbs then a simple brick wall would be fine and you can lay a course of soild engineering brick as closers

http://www.builderswitney.co.uk/image_library/library/b/bui/builderswitney.co.uk/orig_Scan5A.jpg

 

[J_N30]

With the curbs, how high can they go as up to the door one point may be 0.5 meter high.

Thanks for the picture, looks really nice. I'm a bit worried though as I've never laid a brick before!

 

[r896neo]

yea the curbs can be built like bricks but don't look great when done like that.

Your probably better going with the brick if you need that much height. Watch a few videos etc first as it will help if you've never watched anyone laying bricks.

It's not that hard especially when not going too high.

 

[J_N30]

Excellent, i'll go for something like in the picture you posted. Whats the best thing to do reguaring footings? Scalpings, cement ect.

 

[r896neo]

for a small wall like that you want a simple foundation a spade wide and about 4-6 inches thick. You obviously want to have the base level but if that is going to leave you with a really deep section to dig out at one end and very little at the other you can put a step in it but make the step the same height as a brick plus mortar.

Have a look at a basic guide somewhere and come back if you have any specific queries.

Good luck