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I'm looking to recycle bricks to build a raised flower bed, along the length of my fence (pls see pic).
I've been doing a little research on what the bricks should sit on and I'm wondering just how much foundation will be required.
Should I:
A) Lay a concrete slab, reinforced with metal bar, under gravel, using a wooden frame,
B) Lay a concrete slab, under gravel, using a wooden frame,
C) Lay a concrete slab on top of the compacted soil, using a wooden frame
D) Another way - please tell me 
All approaches would be looking to use a 4 inch thick concrete slab, and levelled using string and appropriate spirit levelling.
The slab would include drainage through the bottom or sides of bricks.
Here's the dug trench, still in progress. I'm aware the fence posts have been exposed to soil - previous house owners choice.
The slab will sit a few inches away from the fence line.
Thanks in advance for any advice or insights!
Hi @Brunnie_Rich,
It's one of those things where you really should be compacting the ground. All good solid concrete foundations are built upon compacted bases. Your soil might be adequately compacted, but it's almost impossible for us to be able to know. My only thoughts are that once you build the garden beds, it would be a shame if an area subsided and for all your hard work to be ruined. At the very least, I'd encourage you to hire a compactor for a few hours and go over the soil with it.
Mitchell
Happy new year
I promised an update, and have attached the progress so far.
I've another one or two layers of brick to add, and then will bead and render. For the concrete breeze blocks (the grey ones), would they need rendering inside the bed, to protect from any soil/moisture leaching through and affecting the outside render?
Btw, I have made some mistakes along the way (with the slab sizing), but used a fair bit of bar in there, so hopefully it'll be ok in the long run!
Thanks,
Rich
Thank you so much for the photo updates. You've made fantastic progress and it's looking very good.
Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to the grand reveal when it's all put together.
Eric
Hi @Brunnie_Rich,
That's looking great!
Rendering the inside won't prevent water from seeping through the breeze blocks. Render is cement-based, just like the blocks. If you want to stop water transferring through, you can apply Crommelin Exterior Grade Brushable Waterproofer on the inside. This will assist with preventing water staining on the render. Apart from the aesthetical discolouration of the render, I don't believe the moisture transferring through the wall will damage it. Render breathes and should allow the water to transpire through it quite quickly. If you use paint or a sealer on the exterior render, you'll need to waterproof the inside wall. Otherwise, the water pressure will blow the render off the wall.
Please keep us updated and reach out if you need further assistance.
Mitchell
Hi @MitchellMc @EricL @tom_builds ,
I finally got my bench set in place and thought I'd share the end result. I'm pleased with the result overall and now need to get some plants in there.
I do have some small hairline cracking where the seat sits directly on top of the beading - I may repair this in future. I think it's where the beading may not have been adequately stuck to the brick work as it appeared before the seat was placed, but the additional pressure may increase this over time. Not a big deal for me currently! There's also some run off from the timber stain, this I'm hoping will stop after a few rains. And, in one of the photo's you'll see some solar lighting wires coming from the tree - these aren't cracks in the render, just temporarily hanging there for now!
Thank you al for your advice, really helpful and made this project a lot less stressful, thanks
I do have one further question for advice - drainage around the foot of the planter - what would be the best way to allow water to flow around this?
Hello @Brunnie_Rich
I suggest looking at either Agi drains or Everhard Easy drains. Both products will require you to dig a channel in order to install them. Plus you'll also need to consider where they will drain out to. From a design point of view, you can accessorize the top of the agi drain with pebbles so that it will look nice, unfortunately, the Easy Drain will need to be left open so that nothing obstructs the flow of water into the channel.
Let me call on our experienced members @Jewelleryrescue and @homeinmelbourne for their recommendations.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Great job on the bench seat @Brunnie_Rich. It looks fantastic and I'm sure will inspire many other Workshop community members.
Jason
Hi @Brunnie_Rich Nice brick work and I also use pavers as brick work capping stones
Re your water drainage question: Unless your ground is becoming a soggy mess I wouldnt be to concerned if it rains and some water is trapped againt the wall i am assuming. I have brick work it traps water for a short while next day it is gone. I do have an ag drain through the wall but is it worth the effort drilling some holes through yet . One day if i get bored as I am working other projects currently
Plan A slightly raise soil level in the trapped water zone so a tiny slope 1:20 allows water to flow to the ends of the brick work.
Plan B dig a small trench 100x 100mm deep along the front fill with graval and sand take it to the ends of the wall. As @EricL says a ag pipe is the ultimate if you have serious pooling water but ag pipe would be 150mm down by the time you top cover it with gravel and it need to go some where or let the water bubble up at a blind end once it past brick work. You can always extend it at need. If you get floods best to take into storm water pipe back towards your house so your neighbours arnt impacted by concentrated water flows. Grass will grow across trench.
I hope your water issue is slight
Re your garden If you mulch it on top Suger can or Whoflungdun after dig a few worm s up and slip the under the compost and the soil the worms came from too in case there is worm castings they will help transport and fast track a lively earthy eco system.
