Pic 1: Current yard
Pics 2&3: AI rendering of the wall (with the right corner pier location slightly messed up).
A while ago we had to remove a chimney from our century home. I kept the original bricks because I’d like to use them for this project.
The plan is to build a wall + wrought iron fence along the sidewalk at the front of the house. Nothing too big, but it’s obviously a pretty big undertaking (so I’ll be hiring a mason to handle this). We have small dogs, so it would also be great to enclose our front yard so they can’t go chasing cats/squirrels into the road (and we feel it would elevate the curb appeal too).
I’m curious what tips or advice anybody here may have, just so I know exactly how to scope the project. This isn’t a retaining wall, but since we’re on a hill I want to ensure draining is handled correctly.
Anything else I should be considering?
Anything changes you would recommend to this plan?
by buncle
26 Comments
I will not be very constructive… just wanted to say that you have a beautiful house.
For that small section that AI decided to elongate… if you want the brick to run up towards your house, that small section is gonna look weird bc there’s no room to have a decent stretch of wall before making a 90 degree turn up towards the house
AI made the sidewalk really wide. So it might not look as fitting. That said love the idea to repurpose the bricks
I am not sure that fence would keep in a motivated dog. And beware, people may use your fence as a park bench. We have a similar fence in front of our house and despite the very shallow ledge, people manage to sit their wide butts on it. Those pillars are a great place for empty beer bottles.
Yes a river rock wall would definitiely fix some slope issues and add to the cottage look of the house.
A wall will stop the eye from traveling up into the yard – and your yard is beautiful. It’s perfect the way it is.
Stunning home! I’m excited for you because once this is completed, you will be able to have any plants you want and no one’s dogs can repeatedly pee on them and kill them all. That is all that came to mind for advice at the moment because I’m out so many expensive plants and other than that it looks amazing.
Can’t help with your question, but without question I like your yard and home as-is over the AI render. I bet you get beautiful flowers and butterflies and other pollinators with how it currently is. The brick-wall addition will be such a character loss in real life compared to the render.
If you don’t already have “moody” uplighting, that is the only part of the render I’d follow through with. Skip the wall and uplight your beautiful botanical foliage.
If you have the space in your backyard, you could use the brick for a cozy fireplace hearth.
I’m sure your zoning allows a masonry/ iron fence in your front yard setback. Worth checking out. The last city I lived in would not allow a fence in the front yard.
Even if you do not think this is a retaining wall it will absolutely act like a dam for all the surface water rolling down that slope. You must require your mason to install weep holes at the base and backfill the immediate rear with drainage gravel. Also keep in mind century old chimney bricks are usually very soft and soak up ground moisture like a sponge. If the mason does not install a proper concrete footing and a damp proof course the winter freeze will blow those historic bricks apart in just a few seasons.
Wrought iron on a brick knee wall is the perfect structural move for a classic Tudor home. Just pay close attention to the bottom clearance on your gate design so your small dogs cannot squeeze underneath. Before handing over a massive deposit to a contractor I highly recommend running your current yard photo through the GardenDream web app. It lets you overlay real constructible hardscape layouts and test exact brick heights and fence styles on your actual terrain. It is a vital safety net to ensure you and the mason share the exact same visual blueprint before anyone starts mixing mortar.
Function and beauty have to work together out front. You need to scoop up all that loose river rock scattered along the street strip. Round stones migrate constantly and create a massive tripping hazard when they roll onto the concrete. Replace that rock with a dense creeping groundcover native to your area. It will lock the soil down and create a sweeping unified texture that actually frames your expensive new brick wall instead of fighting it for attention.
Unless it is for security no need, your house is private .
Honestly if it were me, I would increase the height of the brick and iron as there’s no point having anti-intruder spikes that are only 2ft high haha
I would also have a brick pathway leading up to the front door – I think this would compliment the fence nicely!
You’ll also need a matching gate for your driveway
Keep in mind it will Not look like that rendering unless you also redo all the sidewalk, including the path up to the home. The rendering shifts the path to the left, which makes the right wall longer than it actually would be And it doesn’t properly take into account the extreme slant of the yard.
No tips, sorry, but those wall idea looks gorgeous.
Is the sidewalk yours or the city? Any other houses in your area have what you are looking to do? Would hate to go to the hassle and then the city says “No.”
Locate it back at the steps to function as a retaining wall and still allow landscaping in front, which is nicer on the street and more welcoming frontage.
What motivates you to put a wall there? Would a short, wrought iron fence suffice for this purpose? The wall would hide so many aesthetics that are best shown off. 🙂
Before building anything like this, you need to locate your property line. Get a copy of your real property report (RPR) and land title. You are not allowed to build a fence or wall of any kind on public property or within an easement or utility right-of-way. Easements and utility R/W are common on lot frontage. Building anything on public land or easements will likely mean municipality forces you to demolish it after.
Make sure it’s on your own property. And even then, I recommend leaving at least 6” buffer between wall and property line to allow for any margin of error in construction or measurements.
Municipality often have setback distances from property lines and/or restrictions on fence types, heights, etc.
You will also need a municipal building permit to build a wall or fence made of this material and height, especially since it will likely require a foundation. They may require structural engineers stamp for foundation and wall. The wall should not block the surface stormwater drainage flow or cause drainage to flow onto neighbouring property.
Also, “Call before you dig” to locate any buried utilities.
Personally I wouldn’t do this because your yard looks perfect way it is. Wall just adds a lot pf cost and future maintenance issues.
I would go with the brick or even the New England dry stack stones. Beautiful .
Just add that the pointy finials are at a height where impalement could result from being bumped into.
Dogs aside I like the current look more. Nice open look with fresh bushes out to the sidewalk.
I have some knowledge about fences. Considering your home’s style, you should be selective about fencing materials and design. A standard black chain-link fence might look out of place with your aesthetic, but a black wrought iron fence could look great. Besides choosing the fencing material, your tasks will be limited if you’re hiring a contractor. They will measure the fence length in feet, which determines the cost (the fencing material will also be priced in feet), and will account for any additional features like gates. A good contractor will also check utility lines before digging fence posts. You may need to consult your local code enforcement office to see if a building permit is required, but obtaining approval should be straightforward if you hire a licensed fencing contractor. If you are remotely foggy on your property lines, get a survey if you think it is cutting it too close.
Edit… didn’t see pics 2 & 3. Yea, that looks super dooper sick.
Use chatgpt for mock ups
The wall would look amazing and really bring the cottage vibe.
I find the brick wall heavy and distracting from the charm of the house. Have you considered skipping the wall and going with just a wrought iron fence?
Be conscious of how the AI manipulated the space and dimensions to make it more aesthetically pleasing… You will need a good mason. If you’re going to keep the current sidewalk and walkway, but mate to it without it being… Mismatched…
Also, you will need to evaluate how much brick you have vs the vision. If you need to incorporate new material, that might get interesting. You might need a mason who can source used/weathered brick.
Based on the appearance of the home, I’d guess you can afford it but don’t cheap out when it comes to your contractor. Find someone who works on historic properties.
Beautiful home, by the way.