Brick Fence Made with CHEAP Homemade Mortar
No straight lines
We decided a few years ago we would avoid building anything with straight lines if possible. Our fence is no exception. Of course not having property lines to follow makes it a bit more doable.
Our fenced area is a large section that winds it’s way around the back courtyard starting at one side of the house and eventually making its way around to the other side. It's about an acre in size that is carved out of the 10 acre property. Living in the Southwest, we consider the courtyard an extension of our home.
No Animal Privacy
Some sections of our courtyard fencing is 6’ corrugated metal for privacy (click here to see our Metal Privacy Fence) but in other sections, we wanted to view farm animals or enjoy an evening sunset.
Four Considerations:
1. Strong enough to handle a steer or goat rubbing against it
2. See through above 4 feet so we could watch the animal antics
3. Tall enough to keep dogs from jumping out and goats from jumping in
4. A gate for access that was both strong & easy to use
Here is our solution:
Go with what You Got
The bricks we used were lying around the property but if we had to buy them, we would purchase the 4x8x16 block fencing material that interlock. They are less expensive and go up much faster than brick.
Our New Discovery
Masonry Mortar Mixture
9 Parts Sand
1 Part Portland Cement
If we were building a structure or a taller wall, we would probably add more cement to the mixture but for our 4’ wall, this works well.
Homemade Concrete
5 Parts leavings from the sifted sand (click to see our sifted sand method)
1 Part Portland Cement
Concrete Foundation
The foundation for the 4' brick fence is concrete, approx. 2 inches deep & the width of the brick. Our ground packs down so tight here in the Southwest, additional depth is not needed.
Fencing Materials
Brick
Railroad Ties
Hog Panels
Happy Building!
Shelly
January 2014
Partners
Resources
www.greenhomebuilding.com/adobe.htm
www.earthbagbuilding.com/articles.htm
www.earthbagplans.wordpress.com
We moved from the city to the country in 2005. Since then, we have been building structures, raising livestock and growing some of our own foods. We are crazy about family, nutrition and want the best for our growing family.
