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Cape Town - When budgeting for renovations or buying a dream home, a property’s perimeter fence or wall may easily fall off the priority list.
However, if an existing wall is leaning, unstable, unsightly, or home security is compromised with a low wall, by opting to not fix the issue now, you could end up spending more in the long run.
Matthew Wilkinson, director of Vibraneat, explains why investing in a boundary wall increases your property's value:
Why should consumers invest in the building or maintenance of a boundary wall?
The boundary wall is essentially the first thing visitors or potential buyers see when passing by a property, and whether the boundary wall is falling apart, extremely low, or in pristine condition, first impressions count.
An investment into a boundary wall can be a significant benefit to the property.
If a building’s boundary wall is not built to spec or well maintained, it can easily detract from the property’s value.
In addition, it is very easy to start ignoring the rest of one’s property if there is no investment in the maintenance of an existing wall.
Rather than being thrifty by securing a dodgy builder, using poor grade building materials, or accepting shoddy workmanship, ensure that the boundary wall is built properly the first time to stop escalating costs in the long run.
Why are so many walls poorly built?
Walling is often a grudge purchase, as many people generally prefer to spend on the inside of the home first, before moving outside. The decision to enclose a property is not as exciting as buying a new car, spending on an exotic trip, or affording a kitchen or bathroom makeover, so the costs of boundary walls are often seen as "expensive" rather than considered in conjunction with the value that the wall will add to the property.
In addition, cracks in plaster, walls splitting apart or leaning over and blocks or bricks becoming disjointed become noticeable only after the contractor has left site. While the consumer thinks they have received a wall at a bargain price, the age old saying of "you get what you pay for" can apply.
What are the most important elements to consider when installing a new boundary wall?
Consumers should research as much as possible when erecting a new boundary wall to make sure to have chosen the best walling option. One can also easily obtain a decent estimation on building works from the larger hardware stores.
Compare this to quotes and ask questions when the quotes fall below estimated costs from a professional estimation company, as there may have been short cuts taken with labour or building materials.
Steel reinforcing in a boundary wall is also incredibly important and the position and strength of the steel play an important role. The steel holds the concrete together and is vital both for the concrete structure and longevity of the wall.
Steel is incredibly expensive so it can become the first item struck off the list when materials are purchased at low margins. The market is incredibly competitive, allowing material cost to be a consideration when cost cutting is required.
Lastly, consider your security comfort level. Many consumers prefer a garden that leads onto a safe, quiet, open, low maintenance space; free from noise, traffic, disturbance, vagrants, and crime.
If you are considering having a new garden wall installed or an old wall repaired, access control is a vital statistic in home alteration and an overlooked factor in the expense of a new house. Walls that are strong, engineering-approved and above 1.7m will be a necessity if security is a concern.
How important is the wall foundation?
Foundations play a critical role in the strength of walls especially when it comes to retaining soil, the depth and strength of support posts and the distance apart that they are planted.
Little public knowledge exists on what is required for a decent concrete wall and few consumers know to ask their contractor how they plan to factor in the foundation of the wall. Yet, there is little one can do to a falling wall but to start again from the foundations.
Weak foundations are highly attributed to wall failure. A good rule of thumb: The deeper and wider the concrete base, the better for the wall to remain upright permanently.
On larger projects or where the retaining purpose of the wall plays a bigger part than the aesthetic of the wall, there could be devastating effects if the retaining wall fails. In these cases, it is best to have an engineer visit the site and make a formal assessment.
They will advise on the depth of the foundation, strength of concrete and reinforcement. He may also suggest that holes be added in the wall and foundation, which allows water to pass through and prevents the water damming up and adding weight against the wall.
Are there any laws boundary walls need to comply with before construction takes place?
Different regions in South Africa will have different by-laws that govern the construction of boundary walls.
- Fin24
