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Marsh VIC - 3340

Construction

What is a Retaining Wall & How are they Constructed?

A retaining wall is a structure built to support and hold back soil or rock from an area or structure. In addition to the primary function, retaining walls can create usable outdoor space, stabilize slopes, prevent erosion, create contrast to the landscaped areas. Smaller retaining walls are used to create garden beds, support concrete slabs around the house or shed or simply to for edging around the garden. Cantilever retaining walls are perhaps the most common type of retaining wall, they are a freestanding structure without lateral support. They are supported by a footing and rise above the grade on one side to retain a higher-level grade on the other side. These walls are designed to withstand lateral pressure generated from ground behind the wall.

Retaining Wall Process

When it comes to retaining wall work around the home, sometimes it can be difficult to know when you can do it yourself and when you need to call in a professional concrete retaining wall installer. A retaining wall’s footing, steel selection, sleeper width, elevation and whether it requires a geogrid or other reinforcement will determine the type of retaining wall construction best suited for your project. A structural engineer is engaged to determine the correct hole depths, steel thickness/length and sleeper thickness/length. Consider your retaining wall engineering drawings as the build plan they outline all the attributes of the wall design from maximum height, sleeper span, steel size and grade to foundation depth and diameter. Small retaining walls and concrete sleeper garden edging that do not exceed 1m or more in height do not require a permit or engineering.

Construction of Retaining Wall

 Constructing a wall on or near site boundaries where there are additional precautions that need to be taken, and/or building to exceed 1m or more in height will require careful planning and almost certainly a permit which will involve a surveyor coming on site to inspect your foundations and the wall during and at the completion of the build phase.

Construction is completed in a sequence usually outline on the engineering, it can differ depending on the site elevation and wall proximity to the boundary lines.

Benching the area to make space for the retaining wall is the first step on completing this step it is sometimes necessary to implement some protection works to ensure the ground is stable throughout the process and that the boundary fence can’t fall over.

The site is stabilised by shoring of the ground behind the wall either by batter or it is prepared for a hit and miss sequence to be used.  Foundations are drilled to the correct diameter and depth, cleaned and inspected. Retaining wall steel is inserted into the holes by hand or excavator and held suspended in the desired position 100mm -150mm from the bottom of the hole prior to concrete being poured into the hole. Give the foundations 2-3 days to dry and the wall can be assembled and backfilled.

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