Small raised pond

[hammerman]

I want to build a small raised pond for my dad when he goes on holiday.

It's going to be about 5 feet long ( 6 or 7 bricks), approx 4 feet wide ( 5 or 6 bricks) and about 15" high (5 courses)

It will also have a small bit underground to give a bit more depth.

The pond will then be lined with a rubber liner and planted up.

Would a single skin of bricks be sufficient ? no one will be sitting on the edge but i was a bit worried about the outwards pressure. I just think a 9" wall would be a bit overkill for such a small pond.

Any advice is well appreciated

[The Builder]

Theoretically, Hammer, that should be ok. The old "rule" for retaining is ......... thickness of wall should be at least 1/4 of the height.
100mm brickwork isn't going to look very substantial though......... and not very appealing without a decent capping of some sort.
If you really want to impress him ............... put up one course (9" high) of concrete blocks around the pond........... then face it with 100mm brick, and finish with a capping of brick on edge (bricks laid side by side on edge. (13" finished height.)
Put in more courses to increase height if you wish.

If you do go for 100mm brick alone ............... put this in a couple of the horizontal beds.......... increases brickwork strength tenfold...........

http://www.screwfix.c...oil-112mm-x-20m/69577

[Ratty2E]

We built a similar pond a few years ago it was about 2' below ground level and 1 block high. We used concrete blocks which we screeded and coping on top. That was about 10 years ago, as far as I know it's still standing but we've moved now. We did sit on it.