What is the best type of Retaining Wall?

What are the types of retaining wall?

which ones are the best in terms of staying the test of time and strength?

Which type is the best in terms of economical?
Answered: Treated pine is the most economical.

What's the best looking one?

 

Depends on the volume and type of mass you are trying to retain!

 

It's a fairly open question like, how tall is a temple?

Treated pine is economical

 

Strength and beauty don't always go together.

Reinforced concrete blocks on good foundations with ag pipe for water drainage will last looong time.

You can camber the wall for added strength.

Add a rockface fascia for appeal.

Only drawback is dig deep $$$$$ into your pocket lol.

 

Ok thanks. That's what everyone else said.

 

Height is more than a meter like 1000mm.

So blocks at Bunnings won't work right?

 

Mine's about 280 cubits.

 

If it is over 1m then you will need an engineer's design to determine the forces that it is retaining.

 

You'll need structural engineer to plan that
Treated pine the cheapest from memory, reinforced concrete will last you years

 

Put your tape measure on a brick so it's under 1m! No engineer required!

 

Try matchsticks and toothpicks if it's over a metre in height

 

It's under a metre from the high side.

 

Do however keep in mind the longevity - whatever option you choose, ensure it's done properly, otherwise you'll be rectifying it and building it twice.

I'm actually opting for concrete sleepers with a wood-grain look in charcoal for a Project i'm working on but this one is a keeper and a potential PPOR in the future (5-10yrs from now)

 

Galv steel beam and concrete sleeper. zero maintenance and will last a very very long time

 

Bodies of the deceased worked quite well for Sadam in the gulf war.

 

He used sleepers too.

 

Bingo! A lot less headaches too!

 

Treated pine is the cheapest, it is also the least durable you will be replacing it in anywhere from 5-20 years time, it also looks pretty ordinary. Concrete sleepers, pretty much last for ever but again look ordinary. When it came to building walls recently for my place I chose link block walls- Adbri Versa Blocks. Not only do they look great, will basically last forever if built correctly, can be built DIY and surprisingly total material cost was not much more than treated pine wall (when you factor in post hole digging, concrete, fixings etc).

I built them on a compacted roadbase foundation so the only extra materials where roadbase and drainage (gravel, agpipe, geofabric), all quite cheap. Only issue is they have a height limit from memory about 1.2m.

If I had to build a high wall I would use sandstone blocks as I believe these work out the most economical and again last forever.

Treated Pine walls are a waste of time and a false economy given you will replacing it before you know.

 

That story about old rail sleepers having asbestos is a bit of a worry.