Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 May 25, 2011 3:25 pm We are raising one area of our garden by around 60cm. I know we just can't pour extra soil against our existing timber fence Without adding some kind of retaining set up- so what can we do that is very economical but will do the trick? Do we get a landscaper in? Or someone who specializes in retaining walls or fences? I'm guessing we would build a 60cm timber wall up against our timber fence?
Does anyone have a clue on how much this type of thing costs? We have about 30 metres to do, about half is at 60cm and the other half tapers down to 20cm each side. On the ore side of our property we cut into the land and need a retaining wall there too. Is this the same kind of cost? Thanks in advance!! Re: Raising garden height - installing retaining wall 2May 25, 2011 4:41 pm I always say if you're going to do something, do it right the first time. If it were me, I'd be pouring a concrete footing and bricking it with bricks/blocks - this can be face or render/texture coated. Will look a million dollars! Re: Raising garden height - installing retaining wall 3May 25, 2011 4:54 pm The bit that is exposed is down the side of the house so not really concerned about how it will look. The bit that's not exposed is the main thing I'm concerned about - how it's done and costs?? Thanks Re: Raising garden height - installing retaining wall 4May 26, 2011 10:27 am I had a treated pine retaining wall with gal steel posts installed. The cost was $385 per M2 inc GST. This means that every meter of length @ 1m high was $385. You say you have 30m length varying between 200mm to 600mm? To break it down simply, lets say you have 7.5m@200mm, 7.5m@400mm and 15m@600mm. If your cost per M was the same as mine it would cost you $5377.5 total to supply materials and install the wall with drainage of 100mm slotted AG pipe and back fill with scoria. In my experience materials are around half the cost of the job. The steel should be around $55 per M and the sleepers around $20 per 2.4m length. I would recommend 1.5 between posts as it will not warp as much. (it will warp a little regardless) This is usually the cheapest option when having to employ someone to do the job. Other options would be hardwood sleepers for a full timber wall, or steel posts with concrete pre formed sleepers (this is popular to render) Re: Raising garden height - installing retaining wall 5May 27, 2011 11:44 pm nemisis I always say if you're going to do something, do it right the first time. If it were me, I'd be pouring a concrete footing and bricking it with bricks/blocks - this can be face or render/texture coated. Will look a million dollars! I agree. If you are in WA, call http://www.archistone.com.au/ and get a quote on their limestone blocks. We used their wallstone 20 blocks (which from memory are 500w x 350h x 200d) and they are only $4 a block. With a mate and a block lifter, they are really easy to lay. Given what you'd said about the length and height retained, I'd reckon you'd want 60 blocks for the bottom course (30m long) and a further 30 blocks for the top course (to get your height requirement for the half of the wall that requires 600mm or retentions. 90 blocks at $4 is $360. Pretty cheap to my mind. However, there is a caveat. The blocks are BLOODY heavy. It's not feasible to go and pick them up yourself, so delivery is very expensive. Probably close to the cost of the blocks. However, it it's still cheap, and you get to learn some good skills in the process. Couple of things to note though, I'd get more than 90 blocks if you order seconds as you'll find that one in 10 - 20 blocks is a bit too rough (or just broken) and can't be used. Also, it'd be easier with a cement mixer. You can hire one for a weekend, or just check out your classifieds, pick one up for a little over the hire rate for a weekend and then on sell it again once your projects complete. Post the pics when your done. We'll wait here Re: Raising garden height - installing retaining wall 6Jun 15, 2011 2:16 pm We've just had a garden bed put in with bricks. Going to render it. It's up against a colorbond fence, which won't take the load. The bed is only 500mm high. We are going to get treated pine sleepers and put the rear part in. Seems to be the most economical way. Should be able to do 10-15m length for about 300 bucks if you DIY and use pine instead of galvanised metal posts which are quite expensive. Should be interesting to see how it goes! Thank you again Simeon.. I will call my certifier for that. Have a good day 4 5197 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7755 Thanks for the insights, that makes perfect sense, and yeah, I will be leaning on the experience of the excavator operator entirely. 6 16158 |