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Repairing holes in low garden wall

8vb9qkyw7r101478vb9qkyw7r10147 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi all! I'm new to gardening and now we're getting towards Spring I want to sort out my small garden. A problem I have is that I have a low wall surrounding the lawn (approx. two feet high), and various bits of concrete have come away from it (mostly at ground level). Replacing the wall entirely is not an option due to cost, so I was thinking of waiting for a period of dry weather, scraping out any debris I can from the holes, filling them and once dry, painting over. Another option was to do the above but then run a kind of wooden border round the lower part of the wall to fully disguise the holes/cracks but I'm struggling to visualise if this would look silly. So, being new to this game, I'd be very grateful for any advice or suggestions! Many thanks in advance. 
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If it is a retaining wall, you will need to leave some holes for drainage.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It really depends on how capable you are of doing a decent enough mortar job on the holes.  :)
    One thing that makes it easier nowadays is the bags and tubs of 'ready made' material, so it's quicker to do these jobs. It'll also depend on how deep the holes are - you may need to do several layers over the course of a week or two, or longer, and that also depends on the weather.
    I've just done a very shallow, small area of my back steps where the same thing had happened. The top layer had come away, and I just did as you describe- scraping it away back to the solid part, and filled it. I covered it to prevent water ingress, and to keep it sheltered from lower temps, and it gets uncovered when it's reasonably dry. It's looking ok, but I'll leave the repainting until the weather is more steady. It may need another thin layer but I'll just keep an eye on it.
    The depth of the hole is only around 1 cm though. Anything deeper than that, I'd wait until later in the year though.  :)
    I don't think I'd go for the timber option, just because of rotting if it's in contact with the soil/grass. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    If you are cementing wear decent gloves. I did not and did not notice that some of the bottom tips of my fingers were protruding. The lime plays havoc with your skin.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    B3 said:
    If it is a retaining wall, you will need to leave some holes for drainage.
    This is important as water pressure can build up behind walls and could make your problems worse. Could you post some photos so we can see the problem.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • 8vb9qkyw7r101478vb9qkyw7r10147 Posts: 4
    Many thanks all, really appreciate your help. I've attached photos as suggested. Basically I want the wall not to fall down and to look acceptable - I appreciate that this probably wouldn't fix all the issues with the wall however replacing it entirely isn't an option right now. 

    P.s. I'm due to have artificial lawn laid once the walls are complete so it won't look this this for long! 


  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    It looks like water is getting behind the render and blowing it off in cold weather. It looks like more than a patch up job sadly but if you do then you'll have to hack back all loose material before applying new render.
    Maybe consider something from this company before opting for plastic grass though https://wildflowerturf.co.uk/
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited 1 March
    Alas it's the kind of wall that looks OK when new and freshly painted but soon gets scruffy-looking. I think I would get rid of the render, see what's underneath and maybe think about cladding it with something like bricks or treated timber that will still look OK when it gets weathered. Even with new render and paint, it'll soon get grubby-looking even if the render doesn't blow again. It has to be said though, I'm not a fan of the smooth-white-walls-and-artificial-grass look in a garden, so I wouldn't be prepared to put in the work to keep a white wall pristine.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • 8vb9qkyw7r101478vb9qkyw7r10147 Posts: 4
    Thanks. I was also considering just patching as as best I could (damage limitation) then encasing it in good looking treated timber to make it look like wood rather than a wall. As that might make it look ok and also go some way to protecting it from the weather. Just not sure what to do really! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree that it might be easier to clad the whole thing with timber, as opposed to the single plank you were considering. That might be the best solution for you. It's very common for render to blow like that, but it depends entirely on your preference and the amount of time you have for maintenance over time.
    If you can keep the bottom of the wall clear of the contact with the soil, that will help too.  :)
    I'd also agree with @wild edges re the artificial grass. Apart from the obvious problems with it, it also isn't the easy option people think it is. I pass gardens on a regular basis that, if they aren't covered in moss, they actually have grass growing in them!
    Perhaps some easy plants and a path or two that matches your other paving? 
    Your choice though - it all has to suit your needs  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    edited 1 March
    The renders blown. Probably because of water ingress as a result of no/poor drainage. Or the wrong type of render. Or the wrong type of paint. Or damage to the render...Or all four...who knows?!

    What's that on the ground in front? rubber crumb? tarmac? You might find that the level here has been raised and it's blocking the weep holes. It could also be causing your damp issues depending on the gradient, the direction it falls and how well that surface drains.

    If it were me i'd knock the render off (its blown anyway and will only get worse), then excavate behind to see whats going on.

    -find weep holes and install if not present
    -allow wall to dry
    -black jack rear of wall
    -install thin drainage board to back face of wall, or a layer of gravel - you can do this with some ply and simultaneously backfill with gravel one side and soil the other, then slide the board(s) out.

    Re-render, or leave as-is, or clad (timber, stone).

    You can try and patch repair it on the cheap but odds are the issue will manifest across the face of the wall over time. 
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