Advice regarding a retaining wall

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by kazzawazza, Mar 23, 2018.

  1. kazzawazza

    kazzawazza Total Gardener

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    We have a small retaining wall (oblong in shape and about 6 bricks high) with coping stones on the top. Behind the bricks is soil, with slabs on the top. This is where the greenhouse stands plus a couple of raised beds.

    The wall is not lined and was built a couple of years ago but the bricks still have white marks on them. Any idea how we get rid of them?
     
  2. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    That is the water washing the salts out of the sand, usually due to the type of sand used..

    You could try scrubbing it all off letting it dry and then paint on something like Febcure.. The only thing is it might happen again as the water comes through from the earth side. I would defo try something like this to start with though..
    Ronseal Thompson's Water Seal

    Or of course you could seal with the ronseal one and then paint with Sandtex or the like..
    Sandtex Sandstone Beige Matt Masonry Paint 5L | Departments | DIY at B&Q
     
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    • kazzawazza

      kazzawazza Total Gardener

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      We bought something last year to put on it (can’t recall the name). You had to use a watering can to put it on. Didn’t work though.
       
    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      Check out Fortress brick and tile paint....perfect for brickwork :)
       
    • kazzawazza

      kazzawazza Total Gardener

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      Rather than paint it is there any way of stopping the salts coming out - brick acid?
       
    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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      @kazzawazza you need to scrub salts off first with water and fines.. Let dry and then you need to apply a waterproof coating first then a brick or stone paint if you want to paint it.. Otherwise a good scrub and a couple of coats of the concrete and brickwork sealant of your choice painted on.. You will need to brush it on so you stipple it all over the bricks and cement.. Sadly it will probably be an on going problems as the salts are leaching out of the sand used in the cement.. I would think sealing and painting it would be your best answer.. :thumbsup:
       
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      • martin-f

        martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

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          Wait till the frost period is over, saturate the wall with a fine mist spray for several hours then daub it with clay supported with chicken wire.

          Cover to keep the weather off, wait for the salts to crystallise out on the surface of the clay, remove and dispose.

          Clean the remaining salts from the surface of the bricks using dilute hydrochoric and a non ferrous brush in a circular motion.

          Finish up with clean water :spinning:
           
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          • kazzawazza

            kazzawazza Total Gardener

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            Some really interesting suggestions, thank you.
             
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