Retaining Walls

Northern Beaches retaining walls, built right the first time

Retaining walls are part of almost every landscape project on the Northern Beaches. They hold back soil where levels have been built up or cut down, and play a big role in erosion control, so choosing the right wall matters.

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The right wall for your block

Based in Bayview, we're surrounded by sandstone, and it's often the first choice for garden and feature walls, from rustic dry-packed boulder walls to crisp hydro-split sandstone.

Treated pine sleeper walls are another popular, cost-effective option, built in two styles. A cantilevered "deadman" wall lays the sleepers on their side, tied back into the bank with deadmen for stability. It needs no footing for the first course, so it can go almost anywhere, even over rock or pipes. The more common post-and-rail sleeper wall uses concreted posts. Both are equally effective when built properly.

Built properly, drained properly

Two things make or break a retaining wall. First, it must be built correctly and within your local council's guidelines, with approval where it's needed. Second is drainage: if the water behind a wall has nowhere to go, it will spell disaster for any type of wall.

Every wall we build includes proper footings, ag-line drainage and free-draining backfill. Do it right the first time.

Retaining Walls gallery

A selection of our retaining walls work across the Northern Beaches.

Retaining Walls FAQs

Do I need council approval for a retaining wall?

It depends on the height, how close it is to a boundary and how much soil is cut or filled. Low garden walls are often exempt development in NSW, while taller walls usually need approval and an engineer's design. We'll tell you what applies to your site before any work starts.

Which retaining wall is cheapest?

Treated pine sleeper walls are generally the most economical, followed by block walls. Sandstone costs more up front but lasts far longer and adds real value to your property.

Why do retaining walls fail?

Almost always because of poor drainage or inadequate footings. Water pressure builds up behind the wall and pushes it over. We install ag-line, gravel backfill and weep holes on every wall.