So, I’ve been meaning to tackle this project for a while now – building a “brad wall” in my backyard. Nothing fancy, just a little something to separate the patio from the, uh, wilder parts of the yard. Figured it’d be a good weekend project, you know, get some fresh air, get my hands dirty.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed, well, brads. I didn’t actually use brads! I meant bricks! My bad, big mistake, haha. I went to the local hardware store. They had a ton of options, different colors, sizes, textures… I ended up going with some basic red ones, felt classic, you know?
I grabbed a few bags of mortar too, because, obviously, you need something to hold the bricks together. Also picked up a trowel, a level, and some string. I watched a couple of YouTube videos beforehand, so I thought I had a pretty good handle on the basics.
Laying the Foundation (Literally)
Next up, the foundation. This was probably the most important part, and honestly, the part I was most nervous about. I dug a shallow trench, maybe 6 inches deep, and filled it with gravel. Then, I used a tamper – basically a heavy, flat thing – to pack it down real tight. This was supposed to give the wall a solid base and prevent it from, like, sinking or shifting over time.
Brick by Brick
Now for the fun part – actually laying the bricks! I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag. It’s kind of like making really thick, gritty cake batter. Then, I started spreading it on the foundation, one brick-length at a time.
- I put down a layer of mortar.
- I carefully placed a brick on top.
- I used the trowel to tap it into place.
- Used the level to make sure it was, well, level.
Then, I just repeated that process, over and over. It was actually kind of meditative, in a way. I put on some music, and just got into a rhythm. The string I mentioned earlier? I used that to make sure each row of bricks was straight. It’s surprisingly easy to get off-track if you’re not careful!
The Finishing Touches
After I finished laying all the bricks, I let the mortar dry for a couple of days. It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself! A little uneven in places, sure, but hey, it’s my first wall! It definitely adds some character to the backyard. I might even plant some flowers along the base, make it look even nicer.
All in all, I’m pretty proud of my little brad(brick) wall. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot. Maybe next time I’ll try something a little more ambitious. But for now, I’m happy with my slightly wonky, but definitely sturdy, brick wall.
