Very green / damp retaining wall - Tile Over?

[tododo]

Hi all - im not sure if im doing the right thing here but I have a very small retaining wall ouside (block on flat) and sand/cement render. It was done around 4 years ago and its a mess already. The render is green and in parts pitted and eroding away.

I know theres no drainage but without digging into next doors drive (which is raised above ours) I cant do much now. So im starting to go down the route of plastic battens on the wall (everything stainless fixings) and then cement board fixed to the battens and then tile onto that. I think its the way to go but just want to make sure

At first I was thinking of tanking the wall first and tiling straight onto the existing render but I dont think that is a good idea in the long term? I maybe wrong. just looking for advise before I start really. The battens and board will bring the wall out quite a bit so its not without issues but I just want to know if this is the best way really.

Is there anything else that can be used instead. We are just trying to hide the wall essentially as its a complete mess. Also what would be the best adhesive for outdoor natural stone use. Im looking at either an S1 or S2 maybe?? Im thinking of S2 but I dont know really. Thanks for any help

 

[tododo]

Just been on youtube - some installers on there use are using a silcone to fix the tile - never thought of that ie

Sika Sikaflex EBT+ Hybrid Sealant - not sure if thats better or not????

 

[ree]

OP,
What you are proposing will be a lot of work for a shaky result - once ground water pressure is involved then for a retaining wall like you describe it will be difficult to make it look respectable.
You could demolish what you have and re-build with engineering bricks & weep holes - no tiles just bricks.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I would phone BAL or similar and use what they recommend.

@ree the OP's proposal is fairly sound if unusual, plastic battens, SS screws + external grade cement board + tiles with ventilation behind should work OK.

 

[robinbanks]

with ventilation behind

Seems a bizarre thing to be concerned about in a completely external setting

plastic battens on the wall (everything stainless fixings) and then cement board fixed to the battens and then tile onto that

A dedicated external cladding system didn't tickle your fancy? Screw rail to wall, click cladding panels/tiles onto it?

 

[JohnD]

You could drill some holes through the wall to help drain the water behind it.

Water pressure on a wall tends to push off tanking or other coating applied to the dry side.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The OP isn't tanking or coating it.

 

[tododo]

Thanks all - yeh I wish we could do the wall again - it was a mess for years with 1930s coal dust mixed with something and it was always being pacthed up as whatever that render was made of cracked up. When the neighbours moved in we asked if we could go halfs to make it half decent. They had only moved in about a month prior or so but really couldnt do much on their side as they were watching the builders like a hawk in case they damaged anything on their side - so Im stuck with what we have now. The structure of the wall is a massive upgrade to what we had. Its just the render that looks awful - this seems like the only way....Ive not seen external cladding systems yet will have a look at that thanks.... Missus likes these splitface tiles and would be a massive relief to get the wall hidden and a good slate coping added.

Will regard to weep holes i dont know but around here whenever Ive seen them I literally never ever see water comming out of them - heavy clay here...its only about 50cm high this wall so its not high at all but it has their drive on top of it in a nutshell