Planning on Building a Retaining Wall?

If you’re thinking about building a retaining wall in Brisbane, there are a few things you need to know first.

Why Build a Retaining Wall?

The benefits of building a retaining wall will vary from property to property as all landowners face unique situations for their property.

Here are just some of the key benefits.

Preventing Erosion

Retaining walls protect your property from erosion. As the earth’s surface shifts and shifts, it can cause damage to your home and garden. A retaining wall can help to stabilise your property and keep it from being damaged by erosion.

Better Privacy

Extra privacy for your home is achieved by increasing the height of the wall; you can create a barrier between your home and the rest of the world. This means that unwanted visitors – or perhaps noisy neighbours – won’t be able to see or hear what’s going on inside your house.

Landscape Design

Retaining walls can create a beautiful garden feature. In addition, you can create different levels of privacy for other parts of your garden by installing pavers or bricks to varying heights along the wall. This will give each part of your garden its unique character and beauty.

Stormwater And Runoff

Retaining walls can help control your area’s stormwater runoff. By creating a high barrier between water bodies and land, you can reduce flooding and loss of property due to stormwater runoff.

Plus, adding plants or trees along the top of the wall can improve soil stability in those areas!

Practical Spaces

Retaining walls can create areas in your property that you can utilise much better. For example, sloping yards can be levelled out with terraces.

Boundary fencelines can be straight and kept at an even height all around the property’s perimeter. The land right up to the fence line can be used for all purposes.

Planning Your Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are a necessary part of any landscape design. They play an essential role in preventing soil and water from spilling onto adjacent properties, and they can also help to protect structures from erosion. However, choosing the right retaining wall for your needs is essential, and it can take time to decide what type of wall is best for your situation.

The steps involved in building a typical retaining wall using the different types of materials available.

• Decide on the retaining wall – mass vs. segmental.
•  Select concrete, rebar, stone, sandstone, clay brick, etc.
• Design the retaining wall – select the appropriate type of mass retaining wall based on the intended use.
• Construct the wall – use specified materials according to the design.
• Waterproof and seal the wall – apply finish as required.
• Ongoing Maintainance and inspection of the wall.

Types of Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are a necessary part of any landscape project, and there are a variety of types that you can choose from.

Below, we will outline the five most common types of retaining walls and their benefits.

Cantilevered retaining wall. Cantilevered retaining walls are simple in design – they consist of two supports that extend outward from the wall at an angle. This type of wall is popular because it’s cheap to build and provides good overall stability.

Counterfort retaining wall. Counterfort retaining walls are similar to a cantilever retaining walls in that they have two supports, but these supports are attached at an angle to the front or back of the wall. This type of wall is more complicated to build but offers excellent stability than a cantilevered retention wall.

Triblock retaining wall. Triblock retaining walls are similar to counterfort retention walls in that they have two supports, but these supports are connected by a series of L-shaped pieces called cribs. The cribs help to distribute weight more evenly across the entire structure, which makes this type of wall more resistant to toppings and earthquakes.

Anchored retaining wall. Anchored retaining walls use heavy stones or concrete blocks as anchors instead of merely relying on stakes, as other types do. This type of wall tends to be more expensive than different retaining walls, but it can offer excellent stability and resistance against wind and seismic forces.

Retaining Wall Builder

Once you’ve determined the retaining wall you need, hire professionals to design it and get it approved by the local council.

You will have to also consult with building professionals such as a structural engineer and a building certifier.

You will also have to select what sort of building material is going to be best suited for the type of wall you are building.

The most popular building materials for retaining walls in Brisbane are:

• Treated timber sleepers
• Concrete sleepers
• Masonry blocks
• Natural stone

They all have their pros and cons and price points.

Your retaining wall builder can advise you on what materials will suit your property and budget.

To Sum Up

Retaining walls are a great way to improve the look of your property and increase its value. If you are considering building a retaining wall, consult a professional to ensure it is designed and built correctly.

We recommend

Aesthetic Landscapes and Retaining Walls

Redland Bay, Queensland

0400 234 446