Do It Yourself Retaining Walls
Want to build your own Retaining Wall? See which are the easiest and best walls to build.
DIY Retaining Walls – What you Need to Know
There are a few important points to consider before taking on a retaining wall DIY project.
Consider if any of these apply to you before you commence the build…….
- What is the purpose of the DIY retaining walls (structural, visual feature or both)?
- Depending on the height will council approval be needed prior to commencing?
- Will engineers be required to design the plan?
- Will excavators be needed?
- What sort of drainage is needed?
- Will concrete footings be needed?
- What type of wall do you want
These all need to be factored in when choosing the design and preferred material when taking on a retaining wall DIY to ensure a successful outcome.
Different Types of DIY Retaining Walls
Timber DIY Retaining Walls
Choosing timber for your retaining wall DIY? Choose a durable class 1 timber species or timber preservative treated to H5.
The heartwood of naturally durable species that are suited to retaining walls include grey gum, forest red gum, tallowwood ironbark, these timbers are also termite resistant in accordance with Australian standards.
Treated Radiata pine or hardwood sleepers are also popular. Treated pine is usually the cheaper option.
Need more info on Timber Retaining Walls go here
Stone DIY Retaining Walls
When stone is your choice decide whether you would prefer a mortared finish or a dry stacked effect.
Available in a rectangular shape with curved or sharp edges. Each supplier will have their own manufactured sizes.
Or for a natural stone look choose free form stones which will be irregular shapes and sizes. Rounded stones dry stacked also offers the possibility of adding shrubs to create a green garden wall (think trailing cacti and succulents that flourish in dry sandy conditions.
Sandstone is the most preferred choice, also one of the most stunning from a visual perspective.
Granite is another stone that fairs well in smaller applications such as a feature retaining wall or raised retaining garden bed.
If using a cheaper stone there is always the option of installing a gabion retaining wall.
The Gabion wall is normally galvanized wire mesh cage filled with your choice of stone. A new player on the market is gabion walls cut out of sheetmetal which has a naturally occurring rusted effect, blending in with the stones.
Go here for more info on Stone Retaining Walls or Rock Retaining Walls
Concrete DIY Retaining Walls
Your imagination is unlimited with the use of concrete. Following are the main DIY projects using concrete
- Concrete precast dry stacked blocks
- Concrete interlocking blocks
- Concrete sleepers have come a long way in recent times. Many manufacturers offer concrete sleepers all varied between the suppliers in size, shape and colour shades that often resemble a striking likeness to timber, until you touch it that is!
Your Decision Regarding DIY Retaining Walls?
If you’ve given a bit more thought to your DIY Retaining Walls project and decided you’re not that confident in completing the retaining wall to industry standards, we can connect you with an experienced qualified professional.
Trust in your decision in using Retaining Wall HQ contractors here for a Real quote by a licensed tradesperson, who is only too happy to share their knowledge and expertise.
Alternatively suppliers in your area are here.
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Other Types of Walls
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DIY Retaining Walls FAQ
Some of the reasons for building a Retaining Wall are;
- You do not have the space to batter the bank back at approx. 45 degrees.
- The bank to be retained is close to a structure.
- Usually a boundary wall requires some sort of retaining.
- An area needs to be levelled out so as to give you more liveable/workable space.
- You need to level out an area of a slope.
Each Council does have some varying conditions so you should check your local councils specifications. However most councils in Australia allow walls upto 1 metre in height and 1.5 metres from a building or another retaining wall to be built without consent.
This depends on your skill level, some of the easiest walls to build are;
- Pre cast concrete blocks
- Interlocking blocks
- Stone Walls including Gabion walls
- Timber retaining walls
- Concrete sleeper retaining walls
Basically a retaining wall supports a bank. If that bank can be battered back to a slope of 45 degrees you do not require a Retaining Wall.
Not many of us would be lucky enough to find their own stones and dry stack them to form a wall. Other walls would be
- timber
- pre cast concrete blocks
- gabion walls
- concrete sleepers