Buildinga single skin garage

[Yellowduck]

Hi

I am looking at building a single skin garage at the bottom of garden, and was thinking of doing front and one side (which can be seen from our property) in brick, and the other two sides which back onto neighbours in 140mm wide blocks.

Should I get the outside of the blocks rendered?.....or could I give them 2/3 coats of good quality exterior masonry paint. I am not too concerned about appearance, only that the rain will not penetrate into the inside.

Thanks

 

[tony1851]

If you are not too concerned about appearance, you would leave it as it is.

If rain penetration is the issue, then have the perpends (vertical mortar joints) been properly filled and flushed up?

If they have, then that should keep the rain out without any further treatment. If they haven't, then render the walls.

 

[noseall]

Don't be tempted to build the structure on a slab/raft. This is a surefire way to introduce damp into the the building especially if you leave a toe of concrete protruding beyond the masonry.

Use strip foundations and a conventional concrete floor.

 

[Yellowduck]

Thanks...

I can do everything myself, other than the actual brick/block laying.

I was going to use a raft for ease, but will take advice.

Will have the use of a mini digger, but not sure can use it to dig the foundations alongside the two fences, as they will need to be about 12'' from the boundary.

For a single skin brick/block garage, with walls 2.1m high what sort of depth should the foundations be (clay soil) and I assume 12'' wide foundations with some steel rods in should suffice?

Cheers