Can a clueless amateur demolish the modern without harming the old?

8 years ago

Hi all

I’m renovating of my bijou London garden and, with time on my hands, am demolishing what I can initially.

I’m probably adding modern slatted trellis atop the old London brick wall at the back. It will complement the planned modern planting and hide the ugly modern wall rising behind it.

However my elderly neighbour, who owns the garden behind, doesn’t mind if I partly or completely demolish the modern wall. She’s not well, so I wouldn’t expect her to arrange this.

My question is: can a willing amateur knock the modern wall down to the height of the old wall without the prospect of damaging the lovely old wall in front, and if so what should I use? Simple hammer and chisel?

There is a small gap between the two walls, and if the modern wall is knocked back into the neighbour’s garden, there is nothing for the pieces to damage as they fall. Would it be necessary to have a professional lay a damp proof course atop the remnant of the modern wall at the end of this?

More ambitiously, could an amateur knock the modern wall to the ground, as shown in the second pic, perhaps by working across carefully? The concrete section top right I’ll have removed professionally.

Thanks - any hints much appreciated.

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Comments (3)

PRO
Natal Landscapes
8 years ago
Hi there ,you can knock the new wall down ,as long as you go slowly and carefully, but just watch out the old wall is not been supported by it, You can get a large grinder with a diamond blade and cut sections and lift them off ,its slow but would work, dont swing a sledgehammer, you might end up with a pile of bricks,good luck

steven
johnleh thanked Natal Landscapes
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. My husband is also clueless but took down 2 low walls a couple of weeks ago using a chisel and mallet type hammer (and 75% of the bricks survived!). The top course was hard work to remove but the rest a doddle. It does look as if that top left corner has been tied in though? I'd just be careful whichever method you use, our walls were only 3/4 ft but you'll be on a ladder.. I assume you'll have to get a brickie to re-lay the top course so maybe stop 2/3 courses up in case there is any risk of damaging the structure!
johnleh thanked minnie101
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johnleh
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Natal and Minnie. I guess either method will work for the section that's proud of the old wall, but if I try some sort of mallet and chisel approach lower down, the dislodged modern bricks might shoot forward and damage my lovely old London bricks. So maybe a grinder with diamond blade further down. HSS have a boggling choice of such kit; guess they can advise which is best. Here's hoping the local dump will take the bricks, assuming they have no value. And that most survive intact! (No idea what tied in means; will check it out thanks)

Can a clueless amateur demolish the modern without harming the old?

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Natal Landscapes

minnie101

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Can a clueless amateur demolish the modern without harming the old?

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