Dear all, I have just demolished a section of garden wall at my property
that was being pushed over by some self seeded trees that should have
been removed years ago before they bacame a problem. The demolished
section was about 15ft long and is around 6ft6in high at one end,
reducing in a graduated fashion to around 3ft at the other (on account
of the slope of the land).

I arranged for quotes to re-build from a few bricklayers, but was a bit
shocked at the prices; all are around £1200-£1300. Is this way over the
top? When I have watched briccies working on a major construction, it
seems that they can throw up a wall in no time at all, but most of the
chaps who have visited me are saying its a 3-4 day job!

I am now considering DIY, but to make the job as easy and quick as
possible, I think I will use large conrete blocks rather than bricks and
then render the wall afterwards (part of the existing brick wall is
rendered anyway). I want the wall to be the thickness of two courses,
but rather than actually building two separate courses, could I just use
the blocks on their sides? I wonder whether there are any strength
implications to this, since the blocks are far easier to break with a
force from above when laid on their sides than when in their normal
orientation. Would I be running a much greater risk of cracks caused by
settlement if I use the blocks on their sides?


Thanks, Jim