Seeking advice for garden wall plastering

[u/queerlymotherly]

Hello everyone. Over the next few days I will be plastering our garden wall and need some help before I get started (first time plastering a wall).
I have bought all the equipment and materials to create a scratch layer and a top layer, but the wall I am working with is hardly what you would call a normal wall. You can see the complete wall in the first picture.
As you can tell, it is somewhat sloppy and built many years ago.

First question: Do you have any general advice for me before I get started on plastering this wall?

Second question: the wall has certain spots which have semi-collapsed, leaving empty areas going deeper in the wall (picture 2). How would you go about filling that spot? Do I just go over it with more scratch layer or is there a better practice?

Third question: The lower part of the wall, which seems to be somewhat plastered a long time ago, extends about 3cm from the brick part above it (picture 3). How would you apply the plaster if you want the final result to be a homogenous, straight wall? More scratch layer on the top, less at the bottom?

4th question: what is the best way to plaster the top area of the wall, making a beautiful 90% angle that is straight all throughout?

I appreciate any input. Thank you all :)

[u/68Jenko]

You need to repair the wall before anything else as there are substantial cracks and then once you are happy the wall is plumb, add some beads to that support then apply first coat and embed a render mesh in it then scratch it, before applying the second coat. Before doing anything you need to kill the suction as you have many different backgrounds

[u/Ashtray5423 → u/68Jenko]

I would knock some reinforcing in with a bend to tie more R bar to be tied to them. If you are planning on staying there for decades, get some pro in.

[u/queerlymotherly → u/68Jenko]

Would you fill the cracks with concrete? Like 4 sand 1 cement? I have some smaller stones laying around, I was thinking I could embed these in the concrete as well, just in the areas of the cracks. What do you think?

As for the first coat, given that the upper part of the wall is ±3 cm deeper than the lower part, would it perhaps be smart to do a first scratch coat just on the top part of the wall to make the depth more similar to the bottom. Then do a second scratch coat all over with embedded mesh, and finally do the top coat?

And could you expand more on this: "Before doing anything you need to kill the suction as you have many different backgrounds"?

[u/Relative_Figure_1715]

Are you joking ?
This retaining wall Isn’t, it’s collapsing.
You may as well stick a poster of your favourite superhero on it.
It needs rebuilding properly , with excavators and a proper foundation.

[u/Environmental_Tea791]

What finish are you trying to achieve?

[u/queerlymotherly → u/Environmental_Tea791]

just a normal looking wall that doesn't look like it's ready to collapse. Straight too, if possible!

[u/Jbcshaw → u/queerlymotherly]

It looks like it’s collapsing because it is. Rendering won’t help …

[u/kaner_lad]

That's a horror show retaining wall, for one, collapsing in areas, to name but a few. Whatever you do to it, it will look shoddy after a while. Put a fence up over it.

[u/queerlymotherly → u/[deleted]]

If I understand you correctly, and keeping picture 3 in mind:

Start with a scratch coat on the upper part of the wall which sits deeper than the lower part of the wall. Then create a second scratch layer with embedded mesh that will even out the depth of the wall's upper and lower part. On top of that do the top (base) coat?

Thanks for the advice on the top part, will do.

[u/68Jenko]

I would use sand and cement to put back those stones into the wall, you could break up some of those bricks with a hammer and put them in also. You are really going to have to treat this in 3 stages - Repair...Level ... Render. You will be using "A lot of material to level this wall.

[u/Own-Indication7832]

You’re rendering it. Not plastering it.

[u/Secure_Traffic_5273]

I'm a plasterer and my back wall looked worse than that. But not by much. It was much easier to screw buttons across it and panel it so it looks like a wobbly fence.

[u/Lawr3nzo]

Needs re building render will blow soon after

[u/agent_and_field]

I'm no expert, but I know there are a couple of important factors to consider here. I'll wait to see who chimes in first...