Groundworks · Practical advice
Brick walls, pillars and retaining walls
Plan the structure as carefully as the brickwork you will see.
Explain what the wall must do
A decorative boundary, a gate pillar and a wall retaining higher ground perform different jobs. Show the proposed height, changes in level and anything attached to the wall. Gates can introduce additional loads. The design should respond to those requirements rather than copy a detail from a photograph.
Choose the visible details together
Discuss brick colour, mortar appearance, coping and how new work meets existing masonry. Samples and a small agreed reference detail help avoid different expectations about the finish. Include the treatment of corners, returns and exposed ends; those details are noticeable every time you approach the property.
Look behind retaining work
A retaining wall needs consideration of the ground, loads and water behind it. The visible brick face is only part of the structure. Ask whether engineering input is required and how drainage and adjacent structures are addressed. Do not assume a low-looking wall is a simple cosmetic job without assessing what it retains.
Settle boundaries and approvals
Confirm the proposed position and any necessary permissions before starting. Depending on the property and work, other requirements may also apply. The quotation should explain excavation, foundations, disposal and reinstatement as well as bricklaying. Keep the final specification and raise movement or drainage concerns promptly.
Before you book
- Is the wall decorative, load-bearing or retaining?
- Are gate loads included?
- Are brick, mortar and coping agreed?
- Who checks design and permissions?
Further reading
Related guides
Discuss your project
MPH offers 17 years’ experience across driveways, paving, landscaping and groundworks. Tell us about your property, priorities and the work you have in mind.