Retaining Walls - Sydney
Commercial and Residential Retaining Walls Built or Repaired in Sydney
Valuable Information for Retaining Walls Sydney
Welcome to Retaining Walls HQ. If you are you looking for a Retaining Wall in Sydney you’ve come to the right place.
We give you stacks of useful information if you are planning on getting a retaining wall built or if you are mulling over about DIY.
Connect here with trusted, qualified tradespeople, our experts in the trade, who will be happy to provide a FREE no obligation quote. Find out more……
On our website you will be able to find:
- A link to your local council to ascertain whether you need council consent
- What type of retaining wall is required for your landscape
- Whether the type of retaining wall will require an engineered design
- Retaining wall ideas for inspiration
- Whether the retaining wall is a DIY
- General information on different types of retaining walls
- The main materials commonly used in building retaining walls
- Advantages and disadvantages of certain types of retaining walls
- Cost effective retaining wall options
- Make a connection with one of our trusted certified tradespeople
What is a Retaining Wall
A retaining wall is a structure erected to support an excavated or filled embankment that requires stabilisation and to prevent erosion.
When do you require Council Consent to Build a Retaining Wall in Sydney
The first step if you are proposing to build a retaining wall, is to find out if you need planning and/or building approval.
Council consent is required in Sydney to build a retaining wall if all of the following is not fulfilled;
- not be cut or filled more than 600mm below or above existing ground level
- be at least 1m from each boundary
- if it is carried out, constructed or installed in a heritage conservation area or a draft heritage conservation area—be located in the rear yard
- at least 40m from a natural water body
- not redirect the flow of any surface water or ground water or cause sediment to be transported onto an adjoining property
- be separated from any retaining wall or other structural support on the site by at least 2m, measured horizontally
- be located at least 1m from any easement, sewer main or water main
- have adequate drainage lines connected to the existing stormwater drainage system for the site
- if the fill is more than 150mm deep—not occupy more than 25% of the area of the lot
- if the fill is imported to the site—be free of building and other demolition waste, and only contain virgin excavated natural material
- if the land is in a rural zone—not be fill of more than 100 cubic metres on each lot.
These are the basic criteria for not requiring council consent to build a retaining wall in Newcastle. Please talk to the local council in your area.
Here is a link to an Information Sheet
When you know what is required contact one of our local contractors for clarity and peace of mind.
Do you require Engineers to Design a Retaining Wall in Sydney
If your retaining wall is part of a building or structure than a registered engineer will need to design the wall and check construction.
Building Retaining Walls in Sydney Requires Experienced Tradies
Here is why Retaining Walls Sydney is a great place to get your retaining wall project underway.
- We remove the guesswork by connecting you with one of our qualified tradespeople.
- All of the contractors listed are tried and trusted professionals in their field offering advice and expertise to make sure the job is completed to a high standard from start to finish.
- The contractors are experts offering advice and constructive ideas to help you choose a retaining wall suited to your property.
- All tradespeople are licensed and ready to start work in your local area.
Council Regulations.
Areas Serviced in Sydney
Suppliers and Licensed Contractors for Pre Cast Concrete Block Walls in Sydney
Dry stacked blocks that are manufactured to a certain shape that fit together without using mortar.
Not having to have a concrete footing make these blocks a great option for DIY. The blocks come in various shapes, sizes and colours.
Pre Cast Concrete Block Retaining Walls Sydney
Licensed Tradesmen, Suppliers and Contractors for Concrete Block Walls in Sydney
Concrete block walls can be built to form any angle and most radius for that trendy designer look.
They are usually built vertical so are great for those tight spaces on or near boundaries. The walls don’t need to be splayed back giving you more level areas to work with to highlight any landscaped area.
A great benefit of concrete block walls is that they are resistant to termites and rot giving you a wall that will last usually maintenance free for decades to come.
Talk to one of our qualified and experienced contractors to help you with your wall. Coming Soon
Concrete Block Retaining Walls Sydney
Licensed Tradesmen, Suppliers and Contractors for Concrete Retaining Walls in Sydney
Reinforced concrete retaining walls in Sydney are built to any size, shape or angle allowing the designer the freedom of choice. It doesn’t just have to be a bland concrete wall, features can be designed into it.
Concrete walls are particularly good on boundaries as they can be built in tight areas and will not rust or rot and are resistant to fire and the dreaded termite..
If built to specification concrete walls will last over 100 years being one of the strongest walls for any height. They will also outlast most other types of retaining walls.
Many finishes can be accomplished with the use of concrete as your structure. Finishing including rendered, painted, left natural high lighting formwork joints, ground down exposing aggregate within the concrete or cladded with stone or rock facing.
The walls can also be constructed using the shotcrete method and made to look like a rock wall or leaving as a blasted look.
Concrete Retaining Walls Sydney
Licensed Tradesmen, Suppliers and Contractors for Timber Retaining Walls in Sydney
Timber retaining walls in the past have been a noticeably cheaper method of building retaining walls.
Although new products on the market are now challenging this, many homeowners still favour timber as their material of choice.
Hardwood timbers such as ironbark, tallow wood, forest red gum, bloodwood and grey gum are popular, selected for their durability, able to seamlessly fit into any landscape.
Timber Retaining Walls Sydney
Licensed Tradesmen, Suppliers and Contractors for Brick Walls in Sydney
Bricks in the past have been widely used in Sydney and retaining walls are often built to match the existing brick where possible.
Another alternative is to choose a brick from the many different colours and textures available to act as a feature wall on the property.
These walls are maintenance free usually lasting for decades.
Brick Retaining Walls Sydney
Suppliers and Contractors for Gabion Walls in Sydney
The easy method of constructing a Gabion retaining wall consists of rocks or stones that are placed inside a steel mesh cage. No footings are required.
They may be galvanised so as not to rust or powder coated in different colours. New styles feature sheet metal mesh cages that over time expose a rusted effect which blends well into the natural environment.
Building a low gabion wall? Think outside the box adding a piece of solid timber placed on the top making it a retaining wall with the seat as a bonus, not to mention a nicely finished off retaining wall.
Gabion Walls Sydney
Suppliers, Contractors and Licensed Tradesmen for Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls in Sydney
Concrete sleepers are becoming a cheap alternative for retaining walls establishing a well earned place in the marketplace.
Concrete sleepers come in many colour shades using oxides to colour the concrete, eliminating the need for painting.
They are a solid structure able to be built as a vertical wall allowing construction on limited access sites and boundaries.
Most suppliers offer a guarantee on their product when installed correctly with appropriate drainage.
They are also manufactured with different finishes that imitate timber, slate and even stone.
Concrete Sleepers Sydney
Suppliers and Licensed Contractors for Rock Walls in Sydney
A common sight on Sydney’s northern beaches due to the hilly coastal aspect, rock walls are favoured for their ability to blend in to the surrounding landscape, looking like they’ve always been there.
A Rock boulder wall is a type of gravity wall, relying on the weight of the rocks for stability that require very little or no special footings.
Basalt rock is sourced locally and features well as a rustic style rock retaining wall.
Whether a loose formation without mortar is the look you are pursuing, or a more formal presentation is your choice, contact one of our experienced contractors who specialise in rock retaining walls in Sydney.
Rock Retaining Walls Sydney
Suppliers and Licensed Contractors for Stone Walls in Sydney
A stone retaining wall offers up so many choices it can be difficult to decide on which one will suit your property the best.
Consider whether the wall is in the shade or sunlight most of the day? If in the shade, selecting lighter stones such as limestone may be more flattering to your property.
Other common stone retaining walls can be made from schist, granite, basalt sandstone, slate or bluestone.
Each have a very different appeal so factor in which finish, the price bracket and which one will enhance your current surroundings for years to come, when making your decision.
Stone Walls Sydney
Suppliers and Licensed Contractors for Sandstone Walls in Sydney
When choosing sandstone for your retaining wall project, expect to find many options in the size, shape, quality and unlimited designs available to you.
Sandstone is grouped in to two grades, A grade is the dearer option and B grade still a popular option, but you will pay a little less.
There is something special about sandstone that lends it to being one of the most popular types of retaining walls in Australia.
Whichever finish you decide upon, know that you will have a beautiful, classy retaining wall that will be admired for many years to come.
For a top notch build contact a sandstone retaining wall specialist here: Coming Soon
Sandstone Retaining Walls Sydney
What’s on Offer for Retaining Walls Sydney Style
- City of Sydney
- Bayside
- Blacktown
- Burwood
- Camden
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Canada Bay
- Cumberland
- Fairfield
- Georges River
- Hawkesbury
- The Hills
- Hornsby
- Hunter’s Hill
- Inner West
- Ku-ring-gai
- Lane Cove
- Liverpool
- Mosman
- North Sydney
- Northern Beaches
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Randwick
- Ryde
- Strathfield
- Sutherland
- Waverly
- Willoughby
- Woollahra
Why Choose Us for Your Retaining Wall in Sydney
Highly Experienced
All of the Contractors are experienced in the field they are advertising and will be able to show previous work.
Licensed Contractors
We have done the checking for you, making sure contractors hold a license to carry out the work specified in the appropriate state.
Registered Contractors
All contractors are Registered to carry on a Business in the appropriate state. We have verified this for you.
Sydney Retaining Wall 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.
There are many sorts of Retaining Wall options which are grouped into 4 types.
- Gravity Walls which rely on the sheer weight of the wall to retain a bank. An example of these are Rock walls.
- Piling Walls which rely on piles being driven, bored or placed under ground. These walls are usually timber, concrete piles or sheet piling.
- Canilever walls rely on the wall being attached to a Footing. Examples are Concrete and Concrete Block Retaining Walls.
- Anchored walls rely on the wall being anchored back into the back it is retaining. These walls are usually used in Commercial or Industrial areas.
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.
Yes you can, unfortunately though if the wall falls over damaging people or property you are liable. Any wall over 1 metre requires an approval from your local council.
The cheapest way to retain a bank is to batter it to 45 degrees. Failing this the cheapest walls depending on height are basically
- Timber
- Interlocking Concrete Blocks
- Concrete Sleepers
- Insitu Concrete
- Rock and stone
- Concrete Blocks
- Commercially designed walls
Select from one of our Special Tradies to Construct your Retaining Wall in Sydney
As you can see when we talk about Retaining Walls in Sydney the selection available is wide and varied. It can be confusing with all the options we have presented you with.
This is why we encourage you to contact one of our preferred contractors who have the experience.
You can have confidence that they are fully licenced to carry out the required work to a high standard and registered to do business in their state.