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Sloping garden to be terraced

Last post 28-04-2009 11:09 PM by Green Goblin. 1 replies.

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  • 28/04/2009 01:08 PM
    • Edit
    • Colchester
    • 18 Nov 2008
    • 5
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    Hi all,

    I am about to embark on terracing my sloping garden. I want to build a 1m high retaining wall from railway sleepers. I am unsure about whether I need to base the sleepers on concrete, or how deep down into the ground I need to put them to make sure that the wall stays up. Has anyone got any experience you could share about building retaining walls? Unfortunately the garden is wide and not very deep, so making several terraces is not an option.

    Thanks Smile

    Edit
  • 28/04/2009 11:09 PM
    In reply to
    • Green Goblin
    • The Potting Shed
    • 28 Apr 2009
    • 2
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    Hi Edit,

     1 metre is fairly high for a sleeper wall but it shouldnt be a problem. If i were doing this i would do it in one either of two ways; Excavate a trench to firm ground and bed the bottom row of sleepers on a 100mm damp mix of ballast and cement and level it with a sledge hammer, you can haunch the concrete up the sides slightly to grip the sleeper. you can then use either teflon coated Timberlock screws to fix the sleeper rows together and a series of 100mm square fence posts concreted in front of the wall to stop it falling over or if possible create an angle in the wall or a concave wall that curves into the bank to give a cantalever effect which will negate the need for the posts or you could dig a trench and cut the sleepers into sections that can be set vertically in the trench that is then back filled with a generous amount of wet concrete. the latter option allows curves and shapes to be made with the wall but has a different look completely.

     hope this is interesting

     

    Green Goblin