Garden Brickwork — Your Questions Answered

One of the things we love most about meeting new clients is the questions they bring. Most people have a clear picture in their head of what they want their garden to look like, but the details of how to get there, what’s allowed, what things cost, and what will actually last, tend to be a lot less clear. That’s completely understandable. Brickwork is one of those trades where the more you know, the better the outcome, so we thought we’d put together honest answers to the questions we get asked most often. If you’re thinking about a garden wall, raised beds, steps, or any other brickwork feature, this one’s for you.

Does garden brickwork need planning permission?

This is probably the single most common question we’re asked, and the answer depends on what you’re building and where you’re building it. As a general rule, under permitted development rights, you can build a garden wall up to one metre high if it sits adjacent to a highway, or up to two metres high elsewhere on your property, without needing planning permission. For most standard garden projects, that covers a significant amount of what people want to do.

However, there are important exceptions. If your home is a listed building, sits within a conservation area, or has had its permitted development rights removed for any reason, different rules apply, and you’ll need to check with your local planning authority before work begins. In Surrey, particularly, with its large number of conservation areas and heritage properties, it’s always worth confirming your specific position rather than assuming. We can help you work through this during our initial consultation, and if there’s any doubt, we’ll tell you honestly rather than push ahead regardless.

What types of brickwork can you have in a garden?

More than most people initially realise. When clients first get in touch, they’re often thinking about a single wall or a raised bed, but once we start talking through the possibilities, the scope tends to grow in interesting directions. Garden brickwork broadly falls into a few categories.

Boundary and garden walls define the edges of your space, provide privacy, and can replace tired timber fencing with something far more permanent and attractive. Retaining walls are structural features that hold back soil on sloped ground, allowing you to create flat terraces for planting, dining, or play. Raised beds are one of the most popular requests we get right now, and for good reason: they look fantastic alongside a new patio, improve drainage significantly, and give you precise control over your growing conditions. Then there are steps, edging, pillars, and more decorative features, such as seating walls or pizza-oven bases. Good brickwork can do a lot for a garden when it’s designed thoughtfully rather than added as an afterthought.

What's the difference between a garden wall and a retaining wall?

It’s a distinction worth understanding because the two are built quite differently. A garden or boundary wall is essentially freestanding, and whilst it needs proper foundations and correctly specified materials, the structural demands are relatively straightforward. A retaining wall, by contrast, has to hold back the weight of soil and, critically, manage the pressure of groundwater that builds up behind it..

This is not the kind of project where cutting corners pays off. A poorly built retaining wall can and does collapse, with costly and potentially dangerous consequences. When we build retaining walls for clients across Surrey, we always include proper drainage provision as standard, because getting that right is as important as the brickwork itself.

How do you choose the right type of brick?

The honest answer is that the right brick depends on three things: the style of your home, the function of the structure being built, and your personal taste. For most clients in Surrey, we’d start by assessing the existing brickwork on their house and aiming to complement or match it as closely as possible. A Victorian terrace calls for something quite different to a 1970s detached house or a contemporary new build, and getting the brick choice wrong is one of the easiest ways to make a feature look out of place rather than intentional.

Beyond aesthetics, the function matters too. Bricks used in retaining walls or any application where they’ll be in contact with soil need to be rated for frost resistance and durability. Reclaimed bricks are beautiful and work wonderfully for certain projects, but they vary in quality and aren’t always suitable for every application. We’ll always talk you through the options and show you samples where we can, so you can make an informed decision before anything is ordered.

How long does garden brickwork actually last?

This is one of our favourite questions because the answer is genuinely encouraging. Properly built brickwork, with the right foundations, quality materials, and correct detailing, such as coping stones to shed water, can last for decades with very little maintenance. We regularly see original Victorian garden walls still standing perfectly well over a hundred years after they were built. That’s the nature of the material.

The keyword, of course, is properly built. Brickwork that skimps on foundations, uses the wrong mortar mix, or lacks adequate coping will deteriorate much more quickly, particularly during winter freeze-thaw cycles. This is why we’d always encourage homeowners to prioritise quality of construction over the cheapest possible quote. A well-built wall is genuinely a one-time investment.

Should I combine brickwork with other landscaping work?

In our experience, the best garden projects are the ones where everything is considered together rather than in isolation. Brickwork alongside a new patio, for example, works brilliantly when the materials complement each other, and the levels are planned from the outset. Raised beds designed as part of a wider planting scheme look far more considered than beds added later as a retrofit. Steps built at the same time as a retaining wall will align perfectly because the levels are set correctly from the start.

Combining trades is also more cost-effective because groundwork, material deliveries, and site preparation can be shared across the project rather than repeated for each element. If you have a larger vision for your garden, it’s always worth sharing the whole picture with us rather than just the single element you’re thinking about first.

If any of this has got you thinking about what brickwork could do for your outdoor space, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat and let’s see what we can build together.

Parklane Landscaping, Dorking, Surrey Call: 01306 735362 or 07768 026770 Email: enquiries@parklane-landscaping.co.uk

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February 4, 2021

We chose Parklane following a recommendation and during the initial consultation, we stressed that we needed the work completed by a set date due to a very important 40th Birthday party we had planned, no pressure!!! The owner, Dan was honest with us and promised he would complete the job on time but this would require them completing the work in stages which we were happy with and also completely understood due to us leaving the request to the last minute, top tip as they are a busy company, consult with them early as they are in demand!!! As promised the work was completed on time and the finished product is amazing. The team that completed the work were friendly, neat and professional. I even caught one of them washing the front of the house after mixing some mortar which was not expected and shows their pride. The end product rendered us speechless, we were so pleased with the result and the reactions from our party guests were as expected, everyone wanted Parklanes number… I would fully recommend Parklane and we are completely satisfied with their work.

Paul

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