Curved retaining wall

Hi Sarah,

What material are you planning to use? The options are rendered block, block aced with brick or a 9” brick wall, block faced with stone, timber i.e. sleepers or poles. As mentioned above, rendered block is simple, brick may need to be laid as a header rather than a stretcher course depending on the severity of the curve. Stone would be very simple. Timber sleepers would be the hardest unless laid vertically rather than horizontally. Alternatively 100mm round poles are always easy. If you unsure about the actual composition of the retaining structure consult a structural engineer or give me a call and I will pop over and offer some advice – I am just down the road in Oxted. In fact the designer I am normally work with is moving abroad so maybe you would be interested in helping me out on this side of my business.

Charlie

Thanks Charles - I will be presenting my plans to the clients in the next week, so will suggest that they consider using a landscaper who has experience in dealing with this. I would hate to have the walls give way after ten years - particularly as there is a patio attached to it!
Charles Langford said:

Hi Sarah,

What material are you planning to use? The options are rendered block, block aced with brick or a 9” brick wall, block faced with stone, timber i.e. sleepers or poles. As mentioned above, rendered block is simple, brick may need to be laid as a header rather than a stretcher course depending on the severity of the curve. Stone would be very simple. Timber sleepers would be the hardest unless laid vertically rather than horizontally. Alternatively 100mm round poles are always easy. If you unsure about the actual composition of the retaining structure consult a structural engineer or give me a call and I will pop over and offer some advice – I am just down the road in Oxted. In fact the designer I am normally work with is moving abroad so maybe you would be interested in helping me out on this side of my business.

Charlie

Replies

www.westmidlandslandscapes.co.uk January 21, 2011 at 6:13pm

are your retaining walls faced in brick work or render? a good brickie or landscaper should deal with a curve ok..
Jackson's Landscape Design January 21, 2011 at 6:25pm

Hi Sarah

Your talking my language.....the entire build of the footings and curved retaining wall will vary dependant on the height and lenght of the retainer.

Kerry

Retaining walls Devon
www.westmidlandslandscapes.co.uk January 21, 2011 at 6:36pm

im guessing rammed earth would be ideal for this?
Tracy McQue January 21, 2011 at 6:38pm

Sarah, done a few curved retaining walls, they're pretty straightforward. Rendered ones are a doddle, we've even installed lights in ones we've done. Look here for a bit more: http://www.mcquegardens.com/blackhall.html and http://www.mcquegardens.com/edinburgh-new-town-2.html

Does need someone with a decent amount of skill, so decent landscaper/brickie as Gary mentioned and then I just made sure I marked out exactly the shape I wanted with the guys who built them before they even laid foundations. Used Sketchup to plan and create triangulation drawings to get the exact shape I wanted. We build in block work, but if curves are sharper you might be brick instead (and then render?)
Charles Langford January 21, 2011 at 7:06pm

Hi Sarah,

What material are you planning to use? The options are rendered block, block aced with brick or a 9” brick wall, block faced with stone, timber i.e. sleepers or poles. As mentioned above, rendered block is simple, brick may need to be laid as a header rather than a stretcher course depending on the severity of the curve. Stone would be very simple. Timber sleepers would be the hardest unless laid vertically rather than horizontally. Alternatively 100mm round poles are always easy. If you unsure about the actual composition of the retaining structure consult a structural engineer or give me a call and I will pop over and offer some advice – I am just down the road in Oxted. In fact the designer I am normally work with is moving abroad so maybe you would be interested in helping me out on this side of my business.

Charlie
Sarah Russell January 21, 2011 at 7:45pm

They will be faced in brickwork

joe proudley said:
are your retaining walls faced in brick work or render? a good brickie or landscaper should deal with a curve ok..
Sarah Russell January 21, 2011 at 7:46pm

That was what I was thinking too. No offence to builders, but generally house walls tend to be straight!

Gary @ Acer Paving & Landscaping said:
Hi Sarah,

I'm going to give two forms of advice:

1. Don't ask the builders to do the landscaping !

They will price it no matter what their experience, ( work is work ). It's not that all builders are poor landscapers it's just that most are, ( in my opinion ).
Sarah Russell January 21, 2011 at 7:48pm

Thanks Charles - I will be presenting my plans to the clients in the next week, so will suggest that they consider using a landscaper who has experience in dealing with this. I would hate to have the walls give way after ten years - particularly as there is a patio attached to it!
Charles Langford said:

Hi Sarah,

What material are you planning to use? The options are rendered block, block aced with brick or a 9” brick wall, block faced with stone, timber i.e. sleepers or poles. As mentioned above, rendered block is simple, brick may need to be laid as a header rather than a stretcher course depending on the severity of the curve. Stone would be very simple. Timber sleepers would be the hardest unless laid vertically rather than horizontally. Alternatively 100mm round poles are always easy. If you unsure about the actual composition of the retaining structure consult a structural engineer or give me a call and I will pop over and offer some advice – I am just down the road in Oxted. In fact the designer I am normally work with is moving abroad so maybe you would be interested in helping me out on this side of my business.

Charlie