Bricklayers what would you do?

[Guest]

There be a well in our garden. We'd like to brick a few layers up so it's not just a pit of despair. We've never laid bricks before and this doesn't look an easy starting point. There's no pattern to the bricks as they are, nothing is level. This is as it stands.

I've cleared some of it out and found quite a few bricks so was thinking of using those to raise the height. Any advice?

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

We had something very similar in a previous garden and I decided to get some bricks to raise the height so I could turn it into a pond. It's not that difficult once you get started, just make sure you don't do it the same day as a gang of professional brickies arrive next door to start building an extension. Otherwise you will face a barrage of ribald humour concerning your efforts.

 

I couldn't get the top edge to look right so I ended up using some decking to make a timber seat around the top which actually turned out quite well. 

Edited June 4, 2022 by Mississippi Bullfrog

[Beelzebub]

I can look at it if you like. I'm a Brickie but just teach it now. I work at ECC Lowestoft so hopefully not far from you.  Let me know. 

[Beelzebub]

Just saw your location bit far from me. 

 

[Beelzebub]

Thought you was in Norfolk

 

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, Beelzebub said:

Thought you was in Norfolk

 

I am in Norfolk, but the other side to lowestoft over near Diss. We don't have any budget for it though as got a whole load of other work booked in, hence trying to come up with something ourselves. So far I've come up with staring aimlessly at it.

[Six30]

do it out of old stones , probably look better than bricks if you never done that sort of thing before.

[Ainzley91]

Get a sheet of ply, Make a curcular template to the external measurement of the bricks if the sheets big enough, if not then do 2 half moon templates and then push them together and screw with a brace so basically there’s a hole in the middle. Then mix some mortar up, put a bed down on the existing and lay bricks ontop pushing them back to the template and follow it round. When you go up to the next level just put some bricks, timber or whatever underneath the template to hold it up and repeat. When you lay the next layer of bricks then make it so the joints don’t run in line so they’re staggered, if you can get some mesh, chicken wire, some sort of ties then can push this into the morta before laying the brick just to tie it in a little better but not necessary. 
best advice I can give for a DIY. Won’t be perfect but may do the trick for you. 
hope it helps. 

[Beelzebub]

I Got the wrong info in your profile as to location.

I'm near Beccles so don't mind riding over on a Sunday.

Let me know, I've set my notifications up so will respond quicker.