Sleeper retaining wall?

[Levbun]

In my garden there is a large bank about 3m high by 7 metres long (to give you an idea of gradient it is fall is aobut 1m wide so quite steep).

It is currently retained by a two tier dry stone wall, which has started to fall away.
As it is right outside our living room we need something that doesnt look too harsh and not too expensive.(one large wall would look a bit much).

We have had a couple of quotes for 6000 pounds to do a two tier block retaining wall (lay on the flat), but didnt really want to spend this money.

We have decided to tackle it ourselves (god help us), but are still looking at the best option. Someone has suggested using posts and sleepers, but im not sure if this will be strong enougth.

We were maybe thinking of scrapping the second tier and making it slop down to the lower retaining wall (whatever this may be). This will maybe mean we will lose some of the top lawn, but hopefully save a lot on cost.

Note the bank is not retaining any structural features, only a lawn on the top.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have photos but not sure how anyone can view them, maybe i could email them. We are getting pretty desperate now so please help!!!

 

[Deluks]

Posts and sleepers is always a good option, Use rsj's/steel beam/column buried deep and concreted in, then slot the sleepers in between. Won't be very effective at 3 metres high though

 

[Thermo]

If im reading this right youre goiung to effectivly break the sloping bank into two tiers each at about 1.5m high? If thats the case we normally use sleepers set in concrete vertically behind the wall at 1.5m centres. We then build the wall from sleepers secured to the vertical sleepers behind.

Its a lot easier using new softwood sleepers, as they are quite accuratly cut and go together very well in "wall building"

heres some we did earlier!

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• Thermo
• 15 Mar 2008
• 2

this one has both horizontal and vertical walls

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• Thermo
• 15 Mar 2008
• 2

This one was built slightly differently with a concrete wall built behind it, for obvios reasons!

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• Thermo
• 15 Mar 2008
• 2

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• Thermo
• 15 Mar 2008
• 1

 

[maf20]

Hi Levbun

I've just done the very thing you are asking about, and all on my todd too! My slope wasn't as big as yours. and the wall isn't as high either. I cut a step into a sloping garden, and the wall has ended up around a meter or so high.

I've used around 15 sleepers so far and used 5ft posts, dug in 2ft and concreted so 3ft is showing. I've then fixed the sleepers to the posts using 5inch long 1/2 inch dia coach bolts. The posts are at a 5 degree angle. I'll also be putting a perforated drain pipe behind the sleepers to make sure the added weight of any water doesn't put any stress onto the sleepers.

I'm an absolute novice at this, in fact have barely wired a plug before and certainly never re-landscaped a garden before. It's quite easy when you get going. One thing I would say is though, if you need to do a lot of digging to sculpt our the tier, then seriously consider getting some labour or a digger in as it's hugely back breaking. Even our meter high step was a killer until I got a kubota in.

Look at these links for ideas: -

http://www.railwaysleeper.com/ - go to customer photos link
http://www.outbacksleepers.com.au/guide.htm
http://www.thedesignofgardens.com/garden_construction_notes/6000-timber/6006-sleeper_walls.html
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?st...story/data/12600.xml&catref=C107&psrc=storyrl

and if you're digging lots of post holes, get one of these: -

http://www.hss.com/index.php?g=62720

Good luck!