The cost of building a garden wall in the UK typically ranges from £80 to £230 per square metre, depending on the materials and whether you hire a professional. For a standard single-skin brick wall, expect to pay around £80 to £120 per m2. A double-skin wall or one using premium facing bricks will cost between £150 and £230 per m2. A typical 5-metre long, 1.5-metre high single-skin wall will cost between £600 and £900 fully fitted.

In most cases, you do not need planning permission for a garden wall under permitted development rights. However, you will need planning permission if the wall is over 2 metres high (measured from ground level) or over 1 metre high if it is adjacent to a highway (including footpaths and roads). Additionally, if you live in a listed building or a conservation area, you should check with your local council before starting work.

As a general rule, you need about 60 bricks per square metre for a single-skin wall (half-brick thick, 110mm) and 120 bricks per square metre for a double-skin wall (one brick thick, 215mm). It is always recommended to add an extra 5% to 10% to your total to account for breakages and cutting wastage.

A single skin wall is half a brick thick (approximately 110mm) and consists of one layer of bricks. It is suitable for low boundary walls and decorative features up to about 1 metre high. A double skin wall is a full brick thick (approximately 215mm) and consists of two layers of bricks tied together. It is much stronger and is required for walls over 1 metre high, retaining walls, or areas with high wind exposure.

Yes, all brick garden walls require a solid concrete foundation to prevent subsidence, cracking, and collapse. The foundation should typically be at least 150mm (6 inches) deep and wider than the wall itself. For a single-skin wall, a trench 300mm wide and 150mm deep is usually sufficient. Double-skin walls or walls built on unstable soil may require deeper and wider foundations.

Yes, building a garden wall yourself can save you roughly 50% to 60% on the total cost, as labour typically accounts for the majority of the expense. However, bricklaying requires skill to ensure the wall is level, plumb, and structurally sound. If you are a confident DIYer with the right tools, it is a manageable project, but poor workmanship can lead to a collapsing wall that costs more to fix.

The time it takes to build a garden wall depends on its size and complexity. A small, single-skin boundary wall (e.g., 3 metres long and 1 metre high) might take a competent DIYer a weekend. For a professional builder, a typical 5-metre long, 1.5-metre high single-skin wall will take about 2 to 3 days, including digging and pouring the concrete foundation. Double-skin walls take significantly longer.