Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to. The height of what you are trying to retain often restricts you to what sort of retaining wall you can use. As a rule of thumb a retaining wall to around 600mm can be made from a range of products, However as you increase the height the wall has to hold far more weight and will start to restrict the materials you can use or change the way they are used. For example a concrete block wall can go straight up depending on the foundation easily to 2 metres and above. A timber retainer above 800 to 1000mm and we would start looking at terracing to relieve some of the load or stress on the wall. Some block and stone walls step back as they rise, like a pyramid, and this also adds to the strength. We have provided some different type of walls here, but please feel free to give us a call to discuss your needs.

Block Wall

Cost effective cement filled block wall. Drainage usually added to back of wall.

Block Wall Unfilled

This block wall is used when holding small amount of weight but can also be used for larger wall and concrete filled. Blocks are larger and keyed into each other, We use Abri block and they are available with concrete face, rock face or honed. On smaller heights we fill the blocks with road base or blue metal, Capping is available also and they come in different colours

Timber Wall

Usually chosen for cost reasons on boundaries to match neighbours land level and then a fence from colourbond or similar on top. Can be used as straight retaining wall but becomes more costly as it uses 6mm H beams as posts and they must be buried and concreted in to a depth at least the same as height. The steel however has a life span of at least 50 years so only the timber has to be replaced down the track. Would suggest alternative if going over 800mm.

Brick Wall

Usually chosen on smaller jobs than brick where the customer may want to leave the bricks exposed or for easier construction of curves. Also good for garden beds and walls that may need to be made thinner. Can be rendered as shown.

Stone Wall

Stone walls have a beauty not matched by the other mediums, but it comes at a cost and does not suit all house styles.

Gabion Wall

Fantastic look, but not cheap. Smaller walls like the one on the left can be done easily and make a great feature. The main cost with the gabion walls is the actual rocks to fill it. The rocks in this picture cost $210 dollars per tonne and there is close to 4 Tonne in this wall ( approx 12m long by 500mm high 300mm in depth)