Thanks for the response!

To be honest, my experience with brick is limited to a dry stack wall (double layered, but dry) and a summer spent assisting tuck pointing an old brick house.

I thought about brick because a) the house itself is brick, and b) I have access to a ton of lightly used salvaged brick. Mostly b)!

I figuired I'd have to dig down below the level of the sidewalk -- 18"? 24"? -- and pour a cement footer. Since the yard itself slopes, I figured this would be the place to get a level line. Once I excavate to the proper depth, do I need to put in wooden forms for the concrete?

A layer of gravel right behind the brick, between the brick and the soil. For weep holes, I've seen a length of perforated PVC pipe run thru the soil and out the wall. Is that sufficient or is there a better way to do it?

I thought I would cap it with brick colored flagstones, with a little overhang.

Or should I simply scrap the whole idea and buy the interlocking rocks at the hardware store?

Thanks for the tips -- it's helping a lot!

I have to say, I don't like the look of the interlocking concrete blocks I've seen at the area big box stores. And the cost, vs. free bricks and mortar -- has got me still thinking about brick.

I think I'm going to need to recruit some strong friends for digging, and block out a long weekend to do this, but that's a small investment to dress up a 110 year old house!

Thanks again.

If you have the drive to do the brick wall. Go for it :)

Remember that you will have to look at that wall every day, so its best that you choose the material and look that you will like the most instead of going sideways to make it easier.

Glad I could help!

Good luck!

Thanks!

I think I my try a smaller wall, back in the backyard where it's less exposed (and no one can see if I screw up!) See how well I do lining up the bricks and keeping courses level from a level surface, before I try the mosre difficult stuff.

I'd be building a bed on a concrete parking pad, butting into the neighbor's cement block garage. I'd still need the weep holes, but what would I do about the footer? Just start with a layer of brick on the concrete pad?

Appreciate the advice!

Well -- the wall is up! Will post pictures this weekend.

In the end, I went the easy route. I had to get the concrete back porch pad replaced, so I simply had the guys pour the retaining wall as well. It's not perfect; it slopes somewhere between actual level and the slope of the sidewalk, and it's not really parallel to the street (the guy told me afterwards he simply ran a line from the outside corner of one neighbors wall to the other neighbors wall)-- but I don't think that will really be noticiable once I get the concrete stained and the beds put in and planted.

I'm less happy about the drainage. I'd assumed he'd put in drainage holes; it looks like it's usually a piece of PVC pipe placed thru the form, and concrete poured around it. But they didn't put anything in. (This wall is about 16" high, and the space behind it is about 30 inches, with a drop of 12 inches -- hope that makes sense.) When the boss came by the next day to do the cut lines I mentioned the drainage issue to him, and he told me he was drilling holes at the base of the cut lines. They're small, less than an inch across, but they are spaced about every 3-4 feet.

I know I need to put down gravel at the inside base of the wall, and a perforated pipe on top of that. Then more gravel and a layer of filter cloth on top of it before I put in the top soil. (And they're calling for extreme heat advisory for the next week!)

A few quick questions:

-- How much gravel above and below the pipe? Is 2" enough on both, or do I need more?
-- After quick look at two box stores, it seems the perforated pipe only comes in a 4" diameter. This is a relatively low wall, with not much space behind it -- do I really need a pipe that big? If I don't, and I can't find a smaller one, can I use a smaller diameter PVC pipe and drill holes in it myself?
-- The ends of the perforated pipe are open -- would it be smart to wrap the ends in filter cloth as well?
-- I didn't actually see filter cloth at the stores, just read about it in a book -- but I have a done of weed barrier cloth I got on clearance. Can I use that, or do I need something plastic/fiberglass-like that will last forever?
-- And since I'm buying more than just a bag of gravel and topsoil, is there a simple formula to turn inches into cubic yards?

Appreciate all the advice -- once I get it stained I think I'm really going to like this wall, and it's nice how complimentary the neighbors have been about it -- since they're going to be seeing a lot more of it than I do!

Here's the orignal picture I posted. Pretty scruffy looking, isn't it?
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Here's the new wall, looking from the opposite direction. (I don't know why it looks so elongated; the total length of the wall is 35 feet.)
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Looking forward to getting the wall stained, and then the new beds all filled in and planted. I will still have a little strip of lawn -- more than enough I say!