Rendered raised bed

[Freddiegreenfingered]

Hi all,

I am a fairly able DIY-er, but new to landscaping generally. I want to build a rendered raised bed in my garden, and I was thinking of using breeze blocks, three courses high, with a wooden bench built in to the front.
What I am unsure of, is if breeze blocks are the best material, and whether I need to dig footings (and if so, how deep?) as the floor is currently concrete but perhaps not exactly level.

I have heard that perhaps breeze blocks are too porous and might encourage damp to get in behind the render and make it crumble off. Are there any other materials that could be rendered? As always, trying to minimise costs where possible.

Help!
Thanks
Fred

 

[r896neo]

If you want to do it i would use dense concrete blocks 7N. Your footing would be about 200mm wide and 150mm thick. Depth about 300mm or maybe more if the ground is bad. You could build it off existing concrete is its a decent slab at least 100mm thick

As for render on retaining walls and rasied beds it is fraught with problems of staining and blowing off due to constant saturation from behind. So detail it well and use a dpm or at least liquid dpm painted on the back. Then use waterproofer in your scratch coat when rendering. Do not use mono-couche renders like krend as they will get very grimey unless its in a very sunny and dry location.