Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Sep 05, 2011 3:48 pm I'm looking at putting in some new retaining walls as the current ones are falling apart as it was a home job done by the previous owner (just a bunch of rocks placed on top of one another). There is one large retaining wall about 1mx8.5m in the backyard. Another retaining wall off the back deck 0.9mx7m and another small wall in front yard that would be 1-2 blocks high by around 7m but angles around near the garage. I know nothing about building retaining walls however have calculated the cost of blocks (in something similar to the pictures below) to be around $2000-$3000 all up. Now due to lack of time and knowledge I've had a few people out for quotes. They all said the job is extremely hard because of the manual labour to remove the old rocks in the backyard (there is no access for bobcats etc) and most quotes are around the $15,000 mark! Does this seem a bit excessive? Should I attempt this on my own with no knowledge? Here is the situation out the back.. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 2Sep 05, 2011 4:40 pm your pictures aren't loading unfortunately. Are you able to post the dimension of clear access to the area? I think you can get a small 1T excavator in around about 800mm wide but if its tight around corners it may be a bit hard to get too. What type of blocks do you want to use? have you considered treated pine with gal steel posts? Re: DIY Retaining Walls 3Sep 05, 2011 5:34 pm Hi yeah I'll have to sort that out when I get home. The blocks are boral sandstone look blocks. Retail around $5 a block. I think we might have to go treated pine if this is how much it is going to cost! Access is very tight through the side gate only enough to fit a wheelbarrow. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 4Sep 05, 2011 8:42 pm Ok here are the photos. First one is our back yard which needs major work! And the second is the type of retaining wall we want...starting to think I should go for treated timber instead? [IMG]http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/sco77k/98c8bac5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/sco77k/b9518b08.jpg[/IMG] Re: DIY Retaining Walls 7Sep 06, 2011 1:05 pm Hi, have a look through my landscaping thread. I have built a 2 x block walls and a treated pine wall as well. viewtopic.php?f=19&t=44663 Gravity block walls are pretty easy if you follow the basics correctly. I knew pretty much nothing before I started, so if I can do it then virtually anyone can. You could sell the rock you reclaim from the existing walls to offset some of the costs of the new materials. (You could put a condition on the sale that the buyer removes it) All the Best Leonard. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 8Sep 06, 2011 3:53 pm KnockItDown You could sell the rock you reclaim from the existing walls to offset some of the costs of the new materials. A good idea KnockItDown You could put a condition on the sale that the buyer removes it. Turned into a great one. Stick em on eBay and put in that the buyer is to remove. Even if they only go for $1 and they get removed with no effort on your part you'll be ahead at the end. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 9Sep 06, 2011 4:32 pm Yes that is a good idea. There is so many tonnes of the stuff it would cost me a fortune to take it to the tip. Someone also mentioned that for the rear retaining wall I could build the wall in front of the existing one and use the rock to fill in (with extra soil) and create a slightly larger top level. My main concern is if I start removing the existing rocks wont the soil collapse? Or it should hold long enough to build the new wall? Re: DIY Retaining Walls 10Sep 06, 2011 6:14 pm Another idea that may work is to think of reusing the block by incorporating it into your paving, or an outdoor fireplace, with your BBQ and entertaining area. You could soften the look of the stone with creeping groundcovers, like thyme etc growing along the cracks. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 11Sep 07, 2011 10:30 am sco77k Someone also mentioned that for the rear retaining wall I could build the wall in front of the existing one and use the rock to fill in (with extra soil) and create a slightly larger top level. My main concern is if I start removing the existing rocks wont the soil collapse? Or it should hold long enough to build the new wall? Unless you have had a LOT of rain over the last month I doubt the upper level will move anywhere. I was also going to suggest building the new wall in front of the old one but I didn't know if you'd like that approach. It is what I would do. Don't fill the gap with soil though, use scoria or crushed rock instead to allow any rain that does run down to the wall to drain freely. See below for a rough design http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m184/cgem21/walltype3.jpg If you put a new wall in front of existing just take off the top 300-400mm of rock to allow the grass to grow up to the new wall. Only thing to remember is that if you go over 1mt in height you may need to have it designed by an engineer. Make sure it doesn't have to go over that height. Re: DIY Retaining Walls 12Sep 07, 2011 12:51 pm I personally would re use existing stone, square the rock up a bit. Will take you longer but cost you next to nothing (if DIY) and look way better than masonry segment walls Landscape Design & Construction http://cherub.squarespace.com/ Re: DIY Retaining Walls 13Sep 07, 2011 2:35 pm chrisandkate sco77k Someone also mentioned that for the rear retaining wall I could build the wall in front of the existing one and use the rock to fill in (with extra soil) and create a slightly larger top level. My main concern is if I start removing the existing rocks wont the soil collapse? Or it should hold long enough to build the new wall? Unless you have had a LOT of rain over the last month I doubt the upper level will move anywhere. I was also going to suggest building the new wall in front of the old one but I didn't know if you'd like that approach. It is what I would do. Don't fill the gap with soil though, use scoria or crushed rock instead to allow any rain that does run down to the wall to drain freely. See below for a rough design http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m184/cgem21/walltype3.jpg If you put a new wall in front of existing just take off the top 300-400mm of rock to allow the grass to grow up to the new wall. Only thing to remember is that if you go over 1mt in height you may need to have it designed by an engineer. Make sure it doesn't have to go over that height. Thanks! yeah I think that is the way we are going to go. New wall height will be just under 1m Assuming the structure of your cabinetry is good then I would DIY everything as follows: - replace your counter tops entirely, - replace all drawer runners with soft close… 1 4782 Re my second point – yes exactly. And often it may take additional time if the manufacturer recommends no more than X meters… 3 5642 |