My latest little project in the garden ......

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My latest little project in the garden ......
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onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 12 4:09 pm Post subject: My latest little project in the garden ......

.....is a wall

This is a quick mock up of one end. Finished article will have new plinth bricks and will be between 6 and 8 foot high and 53 feet long.
The wall will be split into three sections (for expansion) so the two middle buttresses will be twice the size of that in picture.

And this is the footing dug ready for concrete. 60cm wide x 40cm deep reinforced concrete.

My bricklaying is tidy but not that quick, so it is going to keep me busy for a few weeks

I am looking for 200+ new plinth bricks and appropriate capping bricks or clay copings if anybody knows of some going at a reasonable price.

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 12 6:14 pm Post subject:
"little" project? Looks quite a big one from here! Go for it!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 12 8:08 pm Post subject:
Just the one wall? What about the other three and a roof?

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 12 10:59 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Just the one wall? What about the other three and a roof?

There is a slightly larger eleven wall and four roof project to follow. That will keep me busy for a few months

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 12 12:32 pm Post subject:
I like the brick pattern. It will be interesting to see the finished article.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4563
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 12 2:51 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

I like the brick pattern. It will be interesting to see the finished article.

Flemish bond.

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 10:45 pm Post subject:

Finished.

Brickwork looks darker top and bottom - that's just where its wet - the top before I covered it and the bottom where I cleaned plinth bricks.

I say finished, but I've still got to cast the coping stones.

That's prototype number 2. Number 1 weighed over 50kg. The holes in number 2 are reclaimed downpipe and give a 24% weight saving.

I realise that 5000 bricks and 20ton of concrete and mortar is not exactly a Downsizery project. In mitigation it wasn't my choice to build a wall - although it was my choice to build such a substantial wall.
In downsizer fashion I got 3500 bricks v.cheap (surplus from another self-build), 500 free new bricks (about to be skipped at a hospital extension) and virtually zero waste (all chipped bricks selected for cuts etc)
Apart from a digger driver, it's been a completely single-handed build.

Next 'little' project ?

Once I've finished refurbishing my gates (massive bargain and p/x'ed with a spiral staicase I had no sensible use for) and fitted them, I can start that house project.
Hanging those gates won't be a single handed job. They are 7 foot tall, solid bar and weigh in excess of 100kg each.

I've also got another 'little' project that I've started. Is refurbishing my barn. A much more DS style project involving new oak sole plates, reclaimed bricks, studs and curved beams. Will keep me busy for a bit.

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 10:57 pm Post subject:
Very tidy, well done it looks great!

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 11:06 pm Post subject:
Is your real name Hadrian?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 11:10 pm Post subject:
Is this what the house is going to look like?

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 11:12 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Is your real name Hadrian?

No it's Qin Shi Huang

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 13 11:20 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

Is this what the house is going to look like?

I wish

I also wish I hadn't sold those cast iron lamposts a few years back

House will be more of a converted/extended barn type look.
That said, if I came across the right reclaim ........

derbyshiredowser

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 980
Location: derbyshire

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 13 9:49 am Post subject:
So what do you do in your spare time?

Woodburner

Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 2904
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 13 8:13 pm Post subject:

onemanband wrote:

Once I've finished refurbishing my gates (massive bargain and p/x'ed with a spiral staicase I had no sensible use for) and fitted them, I can start that house project.

I know someone that aquired a spiral staircase in similar fashion. He made a lookout tower with it!

(His garden backs onto fields, and big trees prevent neighbours from being overlooked.

)

onemanband

Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 13 9:10 pm Post subject:

derbyshiredowser wrote:

So what do you do in your spare time?

Sleep

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