Retaining Walls

Retaining Wall Installation Leeds

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Retaining Walls Leeds

A retaining wall is a vertical barrier used to prevent erosion and stabilize slopes. Most of the retaining walls we have constructed have been part of a wide landscaping and patio project which has led to sections of ground being excavated out leading to a height different between two different sets of ground. Once a flat space has been created a retaining wall is required as the loose soil on the higher ground needs to be held in place. Retaining walls are usually constructed out of concrete, brick, stone or natural rock. Depending on the type of soil being retained, they can vary widely in height. For example, a small retaining wall might hold up less than 5 feet of dirt while a large one could support upwards of 20 feet of earth.

Retaining walls come in many shapes and sizes. One common configuration is called a “buttress wall.” Buttresses look like a very tall version of a retaining wall, although buttresses are typically much taller. Buttresses are designed to keep water from flowing downslope into a home or building.

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Retaining Walls in Leeds

Retaining Wall Company Leeds

A retaining wall is designed to hold back the force of gravity. This way, water and soil do not flow downslope and cause erosion. A retaining walls is an effective solution for controlling soil erosion and reclamation or the lower space. Retaining walls are commonly built along slopes and around ponds and patios. They can also be used to prevent erosion on flat ground. Functionally, they're also a popular landscaping feature. They can be useful for creating an open space, a place for kids' play, or a private drive but the wall itself can become a feature and clever planting at the top of the retaining wall can provide a stunning garden feature.

There are several types of brick wall construction. They range from simple single layer bricks to multi-layer brick walls. There are different ways to lay out bricks, and each one offers advantages and disadvantages. For example, you could use a masonry mortar mix, like concrete, to make a smooth finish. Or, you could use drywall screws to hold the bricks together. You'll want to keep in mind how much weight your wall will support, what type of weather conditions you'll face, and whether you'd prefer a flat or sloped wall. Don't worry, we can assist with these decisions. Stone will often look better than brick but will come at a premium. However, depending on the height, slope and weight of ground being retained there are many other material options for a retaining wall.

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Types of Retaining Walls

Whilst most people will thinks that the type of retaining wall they want simply refers to the material it is constructed from when we refer to type of retaining wall we will be referring to the forces and construction techniques used rather than the materials.

Gravity walls rely entirely on their own weight to resist pressure. To do this successfully, they're usually built from heavy materials such as stone or large concrete blocks and will get to a maximum height of 10ft with most being around 4-5ft high. They rely entirely on their own weight to hold back water. To do this successfully, they're usually built from heavy materials such as stone or large concrete bricks.

A gravity inclined retaining wall is designed to resist the forces of gravity and use less concrete block than standard gravity retention wall.

A retaining wall made up of a stem and a foundation slab forming an 'L' shape  is called a cantilever retaining wall. It works by using the principle of leveraging that the weight on the bottom slab keeps the stem vertical Cantilevered retaining walls are usually used for deep excavations with depths of up to 18 feet.

Crib block retaining walls are made up of three parts: the base, core, and capstone. The base is often constructed from concrete or wood blocks set in mortar. The core is typically made from timbers. The capstone is usually made from granite or limestone slabs. The cost of building an average crib-wall varies depending on several different variables, including the size of the structure, the type of material(s) you use, and how much time and effort goes into its construction. An average crib-wall costs between £300 and £500 per square metre.

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Garden Retaining Walls

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    Foundations for a retaining wall

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  • Installation of a brick retaining wall

    Retaining Wall Installation

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    Using Concrete gravel boards for a retaining wall

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  • Concrete gravel board retaining wall in Leeds

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Most decorative retaining walls will be found in gardens all around Leeds. As a garden wall builder most walls will end up having some retaining function as the ground or introduced soil forces pressure on its containing walls.

There are many types of material that are capable of holding soils that can be used to construct retaining walls. Some of these include concrete, stone, brick, block, precast panels, poured-in-place panels, steel, wood, plastic and fiberglass. Depending on the type of retaining wall you wish to build, there are a variety of materials that could work best for you. For lighter loads a paving slab retaining wall or gravel board retaining wall can be quicker to build due to the larger size of each slab or board.

The cost of building a retaining wall depends largely on how much it is built out of, the height of the wall, the length of the wall, the weight of the wall, and the amount of landscaping that needs to be done around the base of the wall.

Timber sleep­ers are a popular alternative choice for replacing bricks or stones in your garden. They add a natural look to your garden will last very long if properly treated and are great low cost option for retaining walls lower than 4ft.

Natural Stone retaining walls look very natural and stylish but cost more in materials and will generally come is smaller sizes than concrete blocks meaning more need to be fitted increasing labour costs too.

Gabion Walls can be used purely decoratively or as a retaining wall. You've probably seen many of these but didn't realise it had a specific name. Gabion is derived from the Italian word ‘gabbione' which translates to 'big cage'. These cages or baskets are simple constructed from very strong steel wire. The are set in place and then filled with the stones of your choice to provide a fee standing and mortar free wall.

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Concrete Gravel Board Retaining Wall

gravel board retaining wall

Concrete gravel boards are an excellent choice for building a retaining wall for both strength and cost. 

A concrete gravel board retaining wall is a structure that holds back soil and creates a level surface. It is commonly used in landscaping and construction projects to prevent soil erosion and stabilise slopes or uneven areas. The reinforced concrete gravel boards are placed horizontally along the retaining wall to provide additional support and prevent the soil from moving. Sometimes precast concrete blocks can be used for construction and then painted or rendered to enhance the aesthetics. 

This type of retaining wall is durable and long-lasting, making it an ideal choice for residential and commercial applications.
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Retaining Wall Builders Leeds

As with most garden hardscaping the most important parts regarding quality are typically what you can't see. The quality of groundwork construction provides the foundation work for whatever you will be building or laying on top whether it is artificial grass, a patio or indeed a retaining wall.

Generally speaking the taller the wall the deeper your foundations should go. Always be weary of any quote which is noticeably cheaper than the others as it is likely that cost savings will be made in the areas not immediately visible. But trying to fix a retaining wall once it has been constructed will cost much more to repair than installing one properly the first time around.

Even for a small wall a  six inch deep layer of compacted sand and gravel should be constructed well below the ground line.

Factoring in drainage is a vital part of the construction process and to aid drainage from the soil behind the wall. Since most walls will not allow water to pass through then you should have a layer of around 6-12 inches of gravel directly behind the wall between it and any soil. This will allows water to drain downwards and not build up behind the wall. For some wall materials it is also good practise to fit a waterproof membrane.

For most residential garden walls under 4ft digging down and fitting a good sub base and using good quality mortar will negate the need for any additional anchors, cantilevers or wall ties. When building above this height we would advise getting an engineer to provide construction specification or build up the wall in smaller steps to reach the same height.

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Frequently Asked Retaining Wall Questions

  • How high can you build a retaining wall?

    For domestic properties ideally you should aim to keep you wall to around 4 foot in height. If you definately need to go higher than this is can be done will deeper foundations and additional wall strengthening work such as double layering and the use of wall ties.

    The other options is to use multiple retaining walls to create a stepped effect. This can be very effective in back gardens as this creates a very interesting landscape effect and allows much more creativity and options for the use of plants and shrubs. 

  • Why choose Paving Leeds to build my retaining wall?

    We are experienced groundworkers which means that foundations are very important to us. As a result we have a good understanding of wall heights and the pressures put on retaining walls. We therefore know how best to construct a wall which will stand the test of time for many years, 

  • What's the strongest option for a retaining wall?

    There are many options such as double layering, increasing foundation depths or using a cantilever method. We will advise on the most suitable options during our survey.

  • What factors affect the cost of a retaining wall?

    Retaining wall costs vary massively depending on their size, design, materials, scope of construction, accessibility, and if any national or local planning issues may come into play. Here are some factors to keep in mind when considering what the price of a retaining wall could come to:


    Height – A higher the wall to more it will costs as it will take longer to complete may require multiple changes to the working platform  height and will require more materials. 


    Length – as the longer the wall the more man hours, bricks and concrete will be required.


    Material – The brick or block price will effect total costs. Concrete bricks are the most common type of stone used to make a retaining wall which can even include the use of fencing gravel boards but for improved aesthetics natural stones like cobblestone and granite will push up the price. 


    Scope of Work – This takes into account the surrounding space to carry out the work. Obstructions such as trees, and shrubs would ideally be removed prior to work commencing but if this is not possible working around such objects will slow down the construction process and add labour time costs. 


    Accessibility – as well as access to construct the wall this can also include access for deliveries. If materials cannot be dropped of directly on site and need to be double handled this too will add costs.


    Since there are so many cost variables we always like to visit the site so we can properly take into account all the above factors and then confidently give a fixed price for your retaining wall.

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