How to bulid/change a garden wall

[bexta]

Hello everyone.
I was wondering if anyone could give me any advise on making changes to a garden wall.
I have a wall which seperates my garden, it lies between a high part and a lower level of my garden.

However, the steps to get down to the lower level are in a really stupid place and are really narrow.

I was hoping I could build a wider step of steps in the middle of the wall and fill in the existing steps.

I have never done any brick work before but I am willing to try anything. If you don't try, you don't know!

Anyway, I have no idea where to start. Can anyone tell me what is best or even where to start?

[buildersmate]

How tall is it? - it matters a lot. Retaining walls hold back a huge mass of soil.

[bexta]

I would say its about 3 foot. Does this picture help?

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/4/7/27/f_P HOT0015m_8afb42c.jpg

[buildersmate]

It's a strange looking stucture that.
This looks like a job where the use of power tools that a tradesman has access to would shorten the time and take the 'grunt' out of the job. In particular, a brick saw to cut vertical lines in the new position for the steps, and through the concrete above it to form the new edge where the steps would descend. Bricklaying itself is not easy first time around - getting the gist of using a string line to keep the rows level and the right amount of mortar layed.
I would urge you to consider speaking to a contractor - one that might be happy for you to do some the labouring perhaps.
The project steps would appear to be:
Cut the vertical brick lines, and a U-shaped slots in the concrete above to free the existing structure from the material to be removed.
Fill in the front of the old steps with bricks - tying into the existing - with brick toothing or some other method (depends how neat you want the finished job).
Dig out the new steps area - moving the material directly to fill the old 'hole'.
Construct some shuttering at the side of the new hole and backfill with concrete. Fill the top of the old hole with concrete at the same time.
Construct the new steps in either brick, concrete or paying slabs.
Here are some general guidelines from Bexley council (building control) about issues with garden walls. These don't formally apply to you. Note that they recommend (and I'd agree) that a wall this height should really be one brick thick - your's appears to be a half-brick thick. It's probably not an issue as yours probably has some concrete infill behind the front-face. You won't know until you try and pull it apart.
http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/planning/buil dingcontrol/hg11.html

[know-ledge]

is that snap shot of your garden or post war iraq?

[dustypuss]

suggestion MOVE HOUSE

[buildersmate]

Now, now, chaps.

[bexta]

buildersmate: Thank you for your sensible answer!
I will have a closer read of your reply when I get home and make the decision as to whether I am up to cutting bricks or not. I can see an accident waiting to happen here!
Like I said though, I will give anything a try, I think I better enrol some help before I attempt anything.

know-ledge & dustypuss: A little mean I thought. This is my 1st house and it used to be occupied by a 90 year old man. I am not affraid of a little hard work. It won't be like it forever and its all mine, I love my house it will be lovely when its finished!

[dustypuss]

dustypuss crawls under carpet with tail between legs :-(

[bexta]

I wasn't getting on my high horse there, I do love my house and.......well I just love it! All my time goes into it and I know its a wreck but it won't be when I start buildning!

I may be posting another question next week: HELP My garden wall fell down!

[dustypuss]

take the washing in it will be dry by now :-)

[bexta]

Yes. Its a good job my pants weren't on the line on Sunday!

[know-ledge]

what suprises me is there is no orange b&q bucket in the photo!

[Lil O'lady]

Just a thought Bexta - is there any mileage in bringing up the level of the lower garden at all? It's just such a steep drop from one level to the next and raising the lower level either by adding topsoil or adding decling would educ the number of courses you need to remove in making wider steps.

[Lil O'lady]

that's 'reduce' and 'decking', sodden keyboard skipping

[dustypuss]

it would be easier to build another wall and turn it into a swimming pool !