Boundary wall: Step, Assembly, price

Faced with prying neighborhood eyes, it becomes useful to proceed with boundary wall construction. This helps you preserve your privacy. You can sunbathe in your garden without being watched by those around you. 

Whether it is a stone boundary wall, cinder block boundary wall, wooden boundary wall, or wire mesh wall, the foundation allows you to delimit your land or garden.

But that’s not all, it is also an interesting idea to enhance home security. A well-defined property prevents any burglary attempts.

Before starting masonry work, consider gathering information about the boundary wall price or more precisely the price per linear meter of wall. Many people compare several quotes to find the best boundary wall rate.

If you also plan to take this step but are not very familiar with the subject, discover this article. We provide useful information on boundary wall foundations and fence prices to help you define your budget.

The steps to building a boundary wall

Even if you have some knowledge of masonry work, there is nothing like entrusting the boundary wall foundations to a professional.

There are many parameters to consider when building a boundary wall. Only a specialist will be able to manage everything.

Although the price per linear meter may seem a bit expensive, you will be certain to have a solid, resistant, and durable foundation.

The construction price for gabion boundary wall, cinder block boundary wall or stone boundary wall normally includes all the work, namely excavation preparation, laying a foundation footing, installing the boundary wall, and finishing work.

To go deeper, I recommend concrete mixing which complements this topic well. Concrete ramp also provides useful insights. And to go further, small wall construction offers interesting perspectives.

Doing the structural work and masonry

Even if you hire a masonry specialist, still inform yourself about the work steps before tackling this project.

The first phase consists of carrying out the earthworks. The goal here is to prepare the surface for the installation of a foundation footing. Take the case of a concrete block fence wall, dig holes whose depth depends on the size of the blocks. This defines the perimeter of the future wall.

Once the ground is excavated, you pour concrete into it and cover it with a metal reinforcement. To properly distribute the loads and ensure good flatness, it is important to pour a fiber-reinforced concrete footing.

Whether it concerns a concrete block wall, stone wall or gabion wall, the foundations must be made according to the rules of the trade. They guarantee the stability and solidity of the fence wall.

After the concrete dries, you can build your concrete block fence wall, row by row. You fix the materials using mortar. Check the level of the wall at each row. If necessary, do not hesitate to adjust it well.

Finishing the concrete block wall

There are many finishes for the concrete block fence wall. Applying a render or coating is among the most well-known options.

The product can be applied on both sides of the wall. You can render or coat the concrete block, but it can also be scraped, smoothed, or troweled.

Facing brick is also among the best finishing choices for the concrete block wall. It comes in many shades and sizes.

Since its physical properties differ from those of mortar, it requires the use of a specific adhesive during installation.

Versatile, scraped render is also increasingly popular among both homeowners and professionals. Besides its aesthetic aspect, the product serves as a waterproofing and insulating agent. When you want to renovate it, you can simply paint it.

Factors and price of a concrete block wall

Type of wall	Price per m²	Lifespan	Level
Concrete block	€50 to €90	20 to 30 years	Easy
Brick	€70 to €120	30 years	Medium
Stone	€100 to €150	50 years	Advanced
Decorative concrete	€90 to €140	30 years	Medium

Since the concrete block fence wall is among the majority’s choices, we will develop the different price criteria of the work.

When preparing the quote, the masonry professional takes into account the length and height of the fence wall.

They also consider the type of concrete block. The fence wall price particularly depends on its thickness. Generally, people use 15 or 20 cm blocks.

Besides that, the fence wall price must include installation or supply as well as the execution of earthworks. The creation of a foundation footing and the finishes must also be included in the quote.

Make sure that it also accounts for the installation of pillars and a cap. If you plan to include a gate, you must mention it to the mason so that it is included in the quote.

It should be noted that the concrete block wall construction price is expressed per linear meter or per m2. As for the footing construction, it is expressed in m3 in the quote.

The cost of the work largely depends on the type of wall material. If we consider only the material supply, the average fence wall price with concrete ranges between 50 to 150 € per m3.

As for the concrete block fence wall price excluding installation, it varies between 45 to 70 € per m². If you want to know the average price of a stone or rubble fence wall, the rate is between 110 to 220 € per m².

Choosing construction materials for a fence wall

There are many types of materials to build a fence wall. But these 3 elements are among the most used.

• Concrete block
• Stone
• Brick

Concrete block

The concrete block is the preferred material of most people for fence wall construction. This material is not only durable but also easy to work with.

A concrete block wall offers a good value for money because despite its strength, it is not expensive. Aesthetically, you can cover it with a coating of your choice or use a brick or stone imitation cladding.

Stone

The stone fence wall is admired for its natural charm. Stone surpasses other materials in durability and strength.

There are two types of stone used to build the fence wall. Natural stone is more expensive. It provides authenticity with countless appearances such as granite, sandstone, limestone, and many others.

You can also choose reconstituted stone. It comes at a reasonable price. It imitates the appearance of natural stones, but it is made of molded concrete.

Brick

Brick, on the other hand, is made from clay fired at high temperature. It is available in multiple shades.

Generally, this material does not require any additional decorative coating or plaster. The fence wall is already pleasant to look at.

What is the legal height for a boundary wall?

The boundary wall construction is subject to different regulations depending on the nature and type of work. If you are thinking of building a low wall that is not a fence, you are not required to have a building permit.

However, you must comply with the current laws when installing a boundary wall similar to a retaining wall.

Before starting your construction project, consider contacting the town hall to inquire about the local urban plan. You may have heard of it before but might not fully understand the terms.

The local urban plan states that the height of the boundary wall must be less than 3.20 meters in a municipality with more than 50,000 inhabitants.

If you live in a town with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, your boundary low wall must not exceed 2.60 meters in height.

When your construction exceeds 2 meters in height, you must submit a prior declaration of works. A low wall under 2 meters high requires no special procedure.

It should be noted that each city establishes its own regulations according to the local urban plan. It therefore seems reasonable to gather information on the subject at the town hall before committing to the work.

What is the price for a boundary wall by a mason?

To better understand our ideas, we refer to boundary wall construction with concrete blocks. The fence price is usually understood per linear meter.

To facilitate the estimation of the masonry work cost, it is more practical to convert the price per linear meter into price per square meter of the low wall.

In our price range, the quote here includes both installation and supply. We refer to the boundary low wall made with standard size concrete blocks. The masonry company uses adhesive mortar during installation.

Wall height	Price per linear meter incl. tax	Price per m²
Low wall 0.60 m	230 €	383 €
Low wall 0.80 m	240 €	300 €
Low wall 1 m	270 €	270 €
Wall 1.20 m	295 €	246 €
Wall 1.40 m	330 €	236 €

If you plan to build the boundary wall price in concrete blocks, the first expense is related to earthworks as well as the creation of the continuous footing.

Then there is the cost of installing the rows of blocks and finishing including the application of plaster and coping.

If you have financial constraints, it is still possible to reduce the price per m² of the boundary low wall. You can choose a height of 0.60 m and then add a wire fence on top.

To go into detail, the cost of the foundation with poured concrete and reinforcements averages €250 per m3. Construction companies generally use a backhoe loader or a mini-excavator during the earthworks.

Regarding finishing, there is a wide range of choices. Whatever the desired decorative style, your concrete block fence wall must be coated. If you are tempted by a roughcast finish, plan between €25 and €35 per m2.

It is advantageous to use a specialized professional to handle the fence wall construction. When the provider is a distributor, manufacturer, or certified craftsman, you can benefit from a reduced VAT rate.

Whether it is a stone fence wall, concrete block fence wall, PVC fence wall or gabion fence wall, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a deduction on the purchase of materials and labor costs.

A good fence wall always starts with a well-prepared ground

You can choose the most beautiful stones, the strongest concrete blocks, or the most elegant design… if your fence wall rests on poorly stabilized ground, it will not hold. Even before thinking about construction, everything starts underground, with properly executed earthworks. An invisible step once the wall is erected, but decisive for its longevity.

Here, there is no room for approximation: the ground is excavated precisely, depending on the nature of the soil and the load to be supported. On clay soil, prone to swelling and shrinking, a draining gravel bed must be planned to avoid excessive pressure on the structure. On sandy soil, meticulous compaction is essential to prevent subsidence. Every terrain has its quirks, and only a professional earthworks specialist will anticipate these constraints to guarantee a stable and lasting base.

Entrusting this task to a specialized company avoids unpleasant surprises: no cracks appearing the first winter, no wall deforming under soil pressure. Good earthworks ensure a wall that withstands the years without flinching.

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