I’m about to build my first brick wall (for a planter), and am wondering why it is necessary to have an air space between the face course and the backup course of bricks. I’m planning to use wall ties, but wouldn’t it be stronger with mortar between the courses too? The finished wall will only be about 18 inches high. What would be the best way to allow for drainage, or is that even necessary?
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Instead of installing a double row of bricks, why not build your wall using 8inch X 16 inch block, and then install a single layer of brick around the block?
Keep a 1 inch air space between block and brick. This space allows water that gets behind the brick, a chance to roll down the backside and exit via weep holes. You can pour grout or cement into the hollow block cells to give the wall more weight and stability if you are worried about the weight of the planter's dirt pushing the wall from the inside-out; though at only 16 inches high, I doubt there will be much "push."
Cap the wall using a "soldier" course of brick capping that would hide the block completely from view once the planter is filled with dirt and flowers.
Just a thought.
Davo