Walls we quote for
- Low patio walls. A few courses of brick or stone round the edge of a patio, often with a coping wide enough to sit on.
- Raised beds. Brick, block or stone, filled with soil. Easier on the back and handy where the ground is heavy clay.
- Retaining walls. Holding back soil where a sloping garden has been levelled to make room for a flat patio.
- Dwarf walls and dividers. Low walls that split the patio from the lawn or mark out a seating area.
Walls are usually built to match the house brick or the patio stone and finished with a coping that throws water off the top.
What goes into a wall that lasts
- A concrete footing, wide and deep enough for the height of the wall and the ground. Clay needs a deeper footing.
- Straight, level courses with joints properly filled.
- A damp-proof course and a good coping, so water does not soak down through the brickwork and freeze. On an exposed coastal site, wind-driven rain makes this especially important.
- Drainage behind retaining walls. Wet soil pushes hard. Free-draining backfill and weep holes let the water out. Taller retaining walls need proper design, and we'll tell you if yours does.
Planning, conservation areas and boundaries
Most garden walls do not need planning permission as long as they are no more than 1 metre high next to a road used by vehicles (including the pavement beside it), or 2 metres elsewhere. Listed buildings and conservation areas have their own rules, and Hartlepool has several, including the Headland, Seaton Carew, Grange, Park, Elwick and Greatham. If the wall is on or near the boundary with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply, so have a word with them early.
Walls as part of a bigger job
Walls usually go in with a new patio, steps or a levelled garden. Quoting it all at once means levels, materials and drainage are planned together, and it tends to be more efficient than separate jobs.
Questions people ask
Do I need permission for a garden wall?
Usually not, if it is no more than 1m high next to a road used by vehicles, or 2m elsewhere, and the house is not listed. If you are in a conservation area or not sure, check with Hartlepool Borough Council.
Brick or stone?
Brick that matches the house usually looks most natural. Stone suits natural stone patios and older properties. We can bring samples to the visit.
Can an old wall be repaired?
Often, yes. Cracked or crumbling walls can sometimes be repointed or partly rebuilt. A wall leaning because of a poor footing usually needs taking down and rebuilding.
How much does a garden wall cost?
It depends on the length, height, materials and footing. See what affects the price or ask for a free quote.