ONQ you advise that" Construction details like this should be discussed with your engineer and not rest on the advice of any tradesman less than a master blocklayer or master bricklayer."
Can you advise on how best to find an engineer for this kind of job.
I need to get quotes for a quite extensive garden wall - site slopes and has other features, so I know that it is not a straightforward job to be given to the first brikkie that comes along... but I don't know where to get the right advice.
Any tips much appreciated (South Dublin area) or if you could PM me any names I could contact?
thanks in advance
At the risk of highjackign this thread [mods please thread split if appropriate] I'll venture this reply.
The answer to your question is not as straightforward as you might have expected from reading the reply you refer to.
For wall on a sloping site in an area of high amenity value and possibly good orientation and/or views I would advise you retain a good designer.
This is because the design of a substantial boundary wall can enhance a property or else devalue it, if it is done crudely or inappropriately for the main house.
Getting advice from an engineer and a builder on construction details doesn't offer advice any on designing the wall in relation to its materials and appearance or planning constraints.
To some this may sound a bit over the top, but on a sloping site there may be several planning issues even where you intend to keep the heights within the exempted development limits.
- at certain points due to the slope you may exceed the heights allowed [1.2M to the front and 2.0M to the rear if memory serves]
- the property may be protected and so building walling of exempted height is be allowed under the planning laws
- the property may be in a listed view and you may have difficulty building walls at all if they interfere with it
- there may be protected stands of trees on the boundary which will require special foundation details
- where there are unprotected trees you may attract the ire of neighbours who like them and who may threaten legal action.
- If you intend to build a higher wall that existing front and/or rear, you may be well-advised to agree details and drawings of same with your neighbour,
Where you intend it to be a substantial, say 8ft [2.43M] plus high, wall for security and privacy purposes, there is a definite planning issue and materials and detailing need very careful consideration.
Even a "bare" rendered blockwork wall will need to be broken into 6M sections for expansion joints and each section will require piers of windposts to support it against the prevailing winds, which regularly reach gale force and higher near the coasts.
In addition, where this is to be a substantial masonry wall, a properly designed foundation will be required taking full account of varying ground conditions along its length to avoid differential settlement.
Our comments above are based on several years of experience dealing both with clients who value their security and the various planning offices around Meath Kildare Wicklow and Dublin.
I would advise therefore, that before you go out to price you need to have something to price for.
Commissioning a mason to build a wall and letting a mason away on a sloping site without
- a proper survey
- an economic foundation design
- wall details agreed
- permission achieved
- a cost estimate
may be one of those construction black holes you hear about, regardless of being held up by a grumpy litigious neighbour or having to sort out an enforcement action.
In relation to moving matters forward, its horses for courses.
You may find a competent engineer with a design flair who will design the wall, and a blockie who can turn his hand to stonework, but the team I would advise for the walling work above is
- architect - planning and design
- engineer - specialist foundation design
- stonemason - building granite walling 2.4M + high.
- general contractor - building foundations, attendances on mason, scaffolding, site management stone delivery and storage
I have found that with a team like this, there is no huge overlap in duties.
There are just logical meeting points with each person or firm sticking to what they are good at, and all of them competent to do their own work.
In terms of this specific job, and selecting people to offer prices and carry out the work, with respect can I suggest that may be a little down the road.
For example if I were doing this again, even though the people I used before might be still available, who exactly would do a similar job today would depend on a lot of factors.
Masonry work is a hard life and the skills aren't always passed down the line, so I don't know even if the Mason would be there and all Masons need minding and good attendances.
The most important thing is the kind of wall you want and the wall you'll be let build if it needs permission.
Masonry wall finishes/materials include; -
- random rubble granite or limestone walling
- coursed random rubble granite or limestone walling,
- 6M precast wall sections
- drystone flint walling
- brickwork to English or Flemish bond.
Each type of wall finish may require a different person of firm to carry it out, because some skills are not that easily transferable.
Someone who is an artist at doing a random rubble wall may not have the discipline to build a brickwork wall with horizontal bedding joints and vertically aligned perpends.
Neither of them may be up to building a dry stone wall in flint which seems to be an art in itself and none of the wall builders will be involved if you choose to go with precast sections.
ONQ.
[broken link removed]
All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matters at hand.