How to remove retaining wall without compromising fence?

[kateruth]

We have a large raised garden bed (60cm high) in my courtyard that directly adjoins a brick fence.  I am wondering whether we can demolish some of the wall to lower the height without compromising the structural integrity of the brick fence. Is there a way I can check if the fence is currently 

being supported by the wall? Or does this require an expert to assess?

I do note the garden wall / bed doesn’t go all the way along so there is a stretch of fence unsupported by anything.

Thanks for your help!

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @kateruth,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Looking at the thickness of the retaining wall, it is likely made of besser blocks that have been rendered, which you wouldn't really be able to tie into a wall constructed with standard-sized house bricks. Also, considering the fact that a boundary wall would almost certainly have been built before the retaining wall, I doubt the retaining wall is doing anything to hold up the boundary walls.

In saying this, we should still do our due diligence, and it may still be worth having a bricklayer or builder come and have a look in person. 

Is it possible to get some photos of the seam where the short retaining walls butt into the brick boundary wall? Is there also any way to see the outside of the boundary wall where the retaining wall meets it? Can you see a concrete foundation at the base of the boundary wall?

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @R4addZ to see what they think.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @kateruth 

Id also like to say howdy and offer a warm welcome to the Bunnings Community pages  

Im also thinking along the same lines as @JacobZ and wondering if there is a chance of some photos where the retaining wall butts up against the brick wall. I suspect as well that they are two seperate instances and can be removed without an issue, suspect is the word so untill we can see there is no linkage between the two its a best guess

One thing to keep in mind when you or if you remove the bessa blocks is keeping those topiary styled trees moist so the roots dont dry out and the earth collapses around them before you work in the area. Depending on that timber strip being an edge or a seperate old wall you could have a bunch of roots from those trees in amongst the soil that you want to remove.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @kateruth 

as @JacobZ mentioned its highly likely the retaining walls were built after the fence line ones. You could simply dig a narrow trench at full depth along its edge to determine yourself if the brick work goes all the way down. If so, then thats what retained the rear side leaving you free to demolish whats in front.

Nailbag

[kateruth]

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for the thoughtful, detailed replies! I’m attaching a couple of other photos, including the ‘seam’ and also a view of the other side of the fence (which leads down a driveway).

I think it is almost definitely the case that the brick wall goes all the way down, with the retaining wall constructed afterwards.

  

I do have a builder coming round for unrelated matters, so I’ll get him to give me a second opinion as well.

[MitchellMc]

Hi @kateruth,

It definitely appears that the brick wall was built first, and the retaining wall was done afterwards. However, given the builder is coming around, it's a great idea to have them check it over.

Mitchell

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @kateruth 

yeah I would be confident that the wall was first and then the retaining wall. A second opion is always handy

Are you keeping the topiary trees?

Dave

[kateruth]

Thinking of keeping the ones along the back wall, but removing the ones along the right edge (based on perspective in my first photo). We will build another retaining wall along the back to protect the hedges we are keeping (hope this makes sense)