. . . things to check on
The first thing that must be determined is your property line, if the
wall is to be built on or near it. You must be sure not to encroach on the
neighboring property, or you may face a lawsuit or other unpleasantness
and expense. It would be well worth the money to have the property
re-surveyed and permanent markers inserted at the corners if there is
any question about the exact location of your property lines.
You should also check with the local Building Inspector's office to
see if there are any ordinances which limit the size, height, material, or
character of the wall you plan to build; whether or not a building permit will be necessary for the construction of the wall. A permit may be
required in some cities and towns. The Inspector can give you also any
restrictions regarding setbacks and finish, and any other information
contained in local codes which you will need to know. Codes in most
places are mainly concerned with strength and stability of the construction so that no public hazard will result from its being built. In cold
sections there may be some requirement for footings or foundations,
because frost might heave the wall, crack it, and make it a potential
danger. Where retaining walls must be built, even though they may be
within the boundaries of your property and not on the edge, there may
also be some restrictions locally, so you should check on them, too.
These things sound more important and complex, probably, than they
actually are. The important thing is to check on them before you build,
before you commit yourself to an order for building materials or even
excavate, so that you will know the restrictions within which you must
work. Then you can go ahead with an unclouded mind to the planning
and building, secure in the knowledge that you're doing the right thing
and that your wall won't have to be pulled down and rebuilt.
... thickness of walls
Walls up to a foot high do not generally need to be more than one
brick course in thickness-approximately 4 inches-and unless they must
withstand weight or pressures from soil, as in a retaining wall, they
may even go a few inches higher. Retaining walls and those higher
than a foot or so are better made two bricks in thickness-about 8
inches-while those used for seat walls-16 to 18 inches may be two or
three bricks wide, the three-brick width of 12 inches being preferred
where the seat is all masonry with no wooden seat atop it
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