Newcastle is known for its stunning beaches and diverse weather, and it’s filled with properties that deserve retaining walls as stylish as they are functional. The right retaining wall can enhance the look of your property and even increase its value.
There are various types of retaining walls, each serving a unique purpose. In this article, we’ll explore the best options for retaining walls in Newcastle and help you find the perfect fit for your property.
What Are Retaining Walls?
Retaining walls are structures built to hold back soil and prevent it from sliding downhill, which can happen due to erosion, gravity, or heavy rain. They are especially useful for homes built above road level or on sloped land. In addition to controlling soil erosion, retaining walls help manage water runoff and support landscape maintenance. A variety of materials can be used, which include sandstone retaining walls and concrete retaining walls.
Retaining walls also play a role in landscape design, allowing for the creation of terraces and raised garden beds. When done right, they add both function and visual appeal to outdoor spaces.
Common Types of Retaining Walls For Newcastle Properties
Gravity Walls
Built from larger, heavier materials like stone or large concrete blocks, Gravity retaining walls are chunky and sturdy. As obvious by the name, Gravity walls leverage gravity to stop soil erosion. Their trench is not dug as deep as some other retaining walls, but it’s definitely wider than its counterparts. The base of a gravity wall starts off wide and then taps off as you move up.
They’re especially handy for shorter rises where you don’t need a lot of technical reinforcements. So, if you’re picturing a solid wall that blends seamlessly with nature and does its job without a fuss, gravity walls might just be your pick.
Cantilevered Walls
If rustic and old school is not your vibe and you want something modern, then cantilevered walls are perfect retaining walls for Newcastle property.
These walls are thinner, sleek, and often made of reinforced concrete. Unlike gravity walls, cantilevered walls are set deep into the ground, which makes them durable and strong. The thickness of the wall remains the same from top to bottom.
And so these walls are great for houses where space is limited, and you need some taller walls. Their sleek look goes perfectly with modern structures.
Sheet Piling Walls
Unlike gravity and cantilever walls, sheet piling walls are mostly made from steel and sometimes wood or vinyl. These walls are perfect for structures where space is limited, but strength is necessary. Where gravity and cantilevered walls fail, the sheet piling walls win.
For sheet piling, a series of planks or sheets are driven into the ground, side by side, so that a large part of the Sheet is underground, with only the top portion visible. That’s pretty much the setup for sheet piling walls. The sheets interlock, creating a barrier that effectively holds back earth and water.
They’re mostly used when space is super tight, and you cannot create a thick, or when you’re dealing with soft soils that need to be held back. While they are easier to set up and probably cheaper, too, they are not ideal if beauty is what you’re after. So, if you’ve got a tricky spot and need a no-nonsense solution, Sheet piling walls might be your go-to!
Anchored Walls
Anchored walls are a modification of sheet piling walls. These are suitable for properties where space is an issue, but extra strength is needed. Their setup is almost exactly like sheet piling, but after constructing the wall’s face, long anchors (or sometimes called “tiebacks”) are drilled deep into the soil or rock behind the wall. Once they’re in place, they’re expanded, sort of like opening an umbrella in the soil, giving the wall a firm grip and preventing it from toppling forward.
The anchors are hidden in the soil so the beauty of your property is not compromised. While creating strength is their main goal, beauty is not their best virtue.
Gabion Walls
Seen most commonly along river banks, lakes, or other large water bodies, Gabion walls have this rustic, old-world charm that makes them stand out. These are large wire cages or mesh boxes filled to the brim with rocks or stones.
Setting them up is relatively easier, but you’d still need a retaining walls professional. First, the wire cages are buried deep in the ground so they hold firmly, and then, they are filled to the brim with large stones or rocks. Once these cages are packed and stacked, they rely on the weight of the fill material to hold back the soil.
Gabion walls can be created in different shapes. They can bend around corners, making them the perfect choice for when you have a wobbly boundary that zig zags around the property. The gaps in stones are also great for drainage. So, if you want beauty and functionality packed into one, Gabion walls are your best friends.
Hire A Professional For Installing Retaining Walls Newcastle
Installing retaining walls is no joke. If set up incorrectly, these walls can cause serious damage to the property and to residents’ lives as well. While the itch to DIY is strong, we recommend you hire a professional for retaining walls Newcastle so that your property’s beauty and sturdiness are never compromised.
Our professionals are trained to set up retaining walls in Newcastle and promise to deliver functionality with a beautiful end product. So, if you are looking to build a retaining wall in your Newcastle property, be it residential or commercial, we would love to do that and you can contact us for a free quote to get started.