A retaining wall holds back wet clay, and wet clay is heavy. Walls fail when water builds up behind them, so every wall we build is drained behind. We build in timber sleepers, concrete sleepers or stone. In Victoria a wall generally needs a building permit and engineering when it is 1 metre or higher, close to a boundary or supporting a structure. If yours does, we say so at the quote and arrange it with a registered practitioner.
What is included
- Excavation, with soil reused on site where it can be
- Posts or footings set to a depth that suits the wall height
- Slotted drain pipe and gravel behind every wall
- Geotextile fabric to keep clay out of the drainage layer
- Steel, stone or brick edging between lawn and beds
- Clear advice at the quote if a permit or engineer is needed
How we do it
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Measure the slope
We take levels, measure the height to be held and check how close the wall sits to boundaries and buildings.
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Permit check
If the wall needs a permit and engineering, we arrange that with a registered practitioner before any digging.
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Build and drain
Footings go in, the wall goes up, and the drain pipe and gravel are placed before any soil is backfilled.
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Backfill and finish
Soil is backfilled in layers, the top is shaped for planting or lawn, and the site is cleaned up.
Signs you need this
- An old sleeper wall is leaning, bulging or rotting at the base
- Soil and mulch wash down the slope every time it rains
- The lawn is too steep to mow safely
- Garden beds have no edge and grass keeps running into them
- You want a level spot for a table on a sloping block
Show us the garden.
The first visit is free and takes about 45 minutes. You get a written quote within three working days.