Brick Planter - waterproofing & sealing

[Willberforce]

Hi

I have had a brick planter built in my front garden as part of a new front garden wall with railings and gate.

The planter itself is approx 3.75m wide by 50cm tall and 20cm depth.

My initial plan was to just fill the planter with earth and then plant box hedging so you get the green plants contrasted against the black railings.

I'm now thinking that some kind of drainage and waterproofing should be used, otherwise the damp earth could result in the brickwork of the wall being permanently damp. This would look bad and could lead to green growth on the bricks.

Am I right in thinking along this line ?

There is a 40cm concrete foundation under the wall so no chance of drainage there.

My plan is as follows:-

1) Paint 3 coats of bitumen / or rubber based waterproof paint on the inside and base of the planter, up to 1 brick below the top of the planter.
Which paint type should I use ?!
Rubber based like this -
http://www.screwfix.com/p/cementone..._container Or bitumen like this - http://www.sovchem.co.uk/paints-surface-coatings/specialist-paints/bitumen-paint.html

2) Drill 5 weep holes approx 18mm wide through the wall into the planter.
Fit plastic pipe into these holes.

3) Fill planter approx 20cm deep with medium crushed and washed stones so that the stones cover the drilled holes and plastic pipe.

4) Place some kind of mesh fabric over the stones to allow water through but to stop the earth flushing through.

5) Fill with earth ?
What kind - top soil ?

6) Plant the box hedging ?

Any advice you can give would be really helpful as I'm just not quite sure the best way to finish this project off.

I designed the wall and railings and planter but only just thought about the potential damp issues.... doh !

Many thanks

Untitled

• Willberforce
• 29 Nov 2013
• 2

Untitled

• Willberforce
• 29 Nov 2013
• 2

Untitled

• Willberforce
• 29 Nov 2013
• 2

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[eddieed]

You are right to think about the drainage. I had a planter built in our back garden and didn't and as you say we have green moss on the wall. Now it doesn't matter for us as ours is rustic and next to an old wall anyway. Yours however looks great so would benefit.

Instead of the gravel you could use drainage pipe wrapped in membrane in the bottom and then attached to the pipes running through the wall. Not sure if it would be as effective though

I would also drill the holes on the pavement side as you are less likely to see them!

One thing we did with ours was fill the bottom of the planter with broken glass to stop rats and mice from nesting in it. A tip we had been given by someone else who had that problem. Brake up your old wine and beer bottles and mix it with the gravel before pouring in!