rendering a garden wall

I've attached an image of my garden wall. This was put in place before I moved in. Over the years I've patched up the wall with cement and repainted it every year (render has cracked every year and fallen off, plus the paint goes green). The bricks are blown and the whole lot needs rebuilding (water proof membrane needed and decent bricks).



Most brick layers I've spoken to have advised me against going for render again as it's unlikely to stay on with the frost.

Wondered if you could give me some advice as to whether I can render the wall and it stay satisfactory for a good number of years? The look would be completely lost without white render. Not sure bricks with white paint would work either? Willing to pay for engineering bricks if the render would stick to them better.

Wondering if the wall was same height rather than sloped - would be better as less render required.

Any other options for keeping the look? When painted it looks really good, but maintenance of it is proving a pain in the A**.

 

Not sure about your brickies' advice, cirrus. Nearly all the new-builds here are rendered onto hollow clay bricks or concrete construction blocks and it can get down to -17C. Would guess that probably it's a twofold problem....surface too smooth so not a very good 'key' for the render to stick, and damp coming through from behind and underneath. I'd go with JWK's suggestions re. damp-proofing, and see whether it would be possible to re-construct using rough blocks. Only other tips are that here the pros do two coats of render and only when the weather is perfectly dry for a few days either side of the operation.

 

thanks guys - sounds like I need to speak to some more brickies'

what advantage does the render edge bead give me? Yes the wall is a retainer for the bed behind (soil flush with wall). In addition to the membrane, would you expect to render the back of wall too or just top and front?

what about using engineering bricks - keeping wall same height all the way round, filling cement flush between bricks and then painting bricks and cement white? Would that work or look awful with the rough brick finish?

 

What about using natual stone, it will go green but it can be washed off

 

I'm with Jiffy on this, using natural white stone perhaps and it will look after itself.

 

Hi I have had white contemporary wall built that I can plant in. It is K rendered and I was wondering how high can I put my top soil. Can it touch the render as the render inside is half way down so if I put top soil just under the render lip it is too low for plants.
Dont want it to crack with the moisture any help thanks

 

Hi John
K render does keep colour but you can paint as I have done just to keep it white. I dont see builder now to ask. It is used on outside of houses so should not crack for 10 years or more but just wanted to know if I could put the soil to near the top of the wall but it would be touching the render. I cant get help