Stone Retaining Walls
Everything you want to know about Stone Retaining Walls in Australia.
The Beauty of Stone Retaining Walls in Australia
Stone Walls and Rock Walls – is there a Difference?
The main point of difference here is the size of the stone or rock.
- Rock walls usually require machinery to lift the large cut Rock or Boulders into place.
- Stone Walls can usually be built by hand being smaller pieces of rock.
Stone walls have the option of being constructed with or without mortar, however when constructing a rock wall, it is the large size of the rocks that use gravity to hold them in place.
Which type of Stone Retaining Walls are available?
Dry Stacked:
The method of dry stacked stone walls dates back thousands of years. Stones are stacked one on top of the other without the use of mortar.
Dry stacked stone retaining walls are easy to construct with the larger stones on the bottom layer, enabling natural drainage while preventing soil erosion.
A further insight into dry walling can be found at The Dry stone Walls Association of Autralia website.
Mortared/Bedded:
As the name implies, for a more rigid stone wall, mortar is used. Stone walls constructed using mortar provide a rigid structure with a solid base.
The disadvantage of this method is when natural earth movement occurs over time the wall may start to crack often in more than one area. When this happens, repairs can usually be done using the same stone.
Stone Veneer or Facing:
The appeal of natural stone veneer is a popular option in stone retaining walls. The stone walls can be constructed over an existing concrete block retaining wall or concrete retaining wall to create a naturally aesthetically pleasing addition to enhance the private residence. Stone veneer walls are also widely used in subdivisions in providing a grand entry!
Types of Different Stone used in Australian Stone Retaining Walls
Here are some of the more widely used stone varieties in stone walls:
- Limestone: a sedimentary stone with an off white – cream shade.
- Granite: An igneous rock formed from magma or lava, extremely hard. Granites have a grainy appearance in white, pink, grey or green shades depending on their country’s origins.
- Sandstone: a timeless sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles, fragmented rock or organic material.
- Bluestone or Basalt: Igneous rock from lava with a darkish grey colour. More than 90% of volcanic rock on Earth is of basalt.
- Schist: A Metamorphic rock (see description below) consisting of sheet-like horizontal grains interleaved with quartz which give it a unique sparkle effect. It can be found in light or dark shades
- Quartzite: A metamorphic rock formed when quartz-rich sandstone or chert has been exposed to high temperatures and pressures. A hard rock with a sparkly, sugary guise in white or shades of grey.
- Slate: A metamorphic rock that is quite flaky and dark grey in colour.
- Marble: A Metaphoric rock derived from limestone. Pure marble is white, however there are a variety of shades and colours even black.
Source: Wikipedia Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types, in a process called metamorphism, which means “change in form”.
The original rock (protolith) is subjected to heat and pressure, causing profound physical or chemical change. The protolith may be a sedimentary, igneous, or existing metamorphic rock.
Are Stone Retaining Walls Costly?
Depending on which stone is used or the method eg: dry stacked is a cheaper option for the DIY home handyman, while other retaining walls may need the services of a contractor and structural engineer for design and construction adding to the cost.
When costing for stone retaining walls, consider the longevity of the wall. They provide a far superior finish to the landscape and when constructed well, stone walls should serve and add value to the property for a lifetime.
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Stone Retaining Wall FAQ
Stone has generally developed from rock but are a smaller version, pebbles are then a smaller version of stone but can be the same material as rock. Basically there are 3 types of wall;
- A rock wall consists of large boulders or cut blocks and are generally handled by machine.
- A stone wall consists of smaller pieces which can be handled by hand.
- Pebbles are generally used as a facing and stuck onto a more stable structure or are held together by a cage such as gabion walls.
There are different versions to this depending on the country you are in but this is the general rule of thumb.
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.
The following are a selection of the general types of stone seen in retaining walls;
- sandstone
- bluestone
- granite
- limestone
- basalt
- schist
The different types of stone walls are;
- Dry stacked stone
- Bedded stone
- Stone used in a veneer or facing
This depends on how well the wall was built, basically stone walls are still standing from the Roman days. What does that tell us?
Find the stone and dry stack them, cant get any cheaper then that. If you are not confident to build the wall yourself, Gabion walls have become a popular way of building a cost efficient wall.