Help - need some advice please!

jaggyjim

Firstly let me apologise if I am posting this in the wrong section but really could do with some help.

After many many months of deliberating and searching, we eventually took the plunge and employed a landscaping firm to deal with our large sloping back garden. We had the garden split into 2 levels across its width with the area at the bottom of the garden (lower level) actually built up slightly so that there are only 3 steps down.

As its subsequently transpired they had not retained that lower garden along the bottom fence and the soil started caving away with all the torrential rain we have had recently.
The landscaper has finally been out to take a look at the garden and ordered additional timber to retain this. When I spoke to him today he said what he is planning to do is to remove the back fence, leaving the fence posts in position. Strap the additional timber to the fence posts to act as a retaining wall for the lower garden (about 2 ft high) and the replace the fence, backfill the area with topsoil and relay the turf.

My concern is that the fence posts were put up to carry the weight of the fence and so would they be able to cope with the weight/pressure of the lower garden? I know he is doing this because it saves him the time/effort/money in putting in additional posts but I would feel better if he were to put at least 1 half height post in between each existing fence post.

I really don;t want the fence to start buckling under the pressure and potentially affect the entire back fence including my neighbours. Is that likely to happen or not? If anyone has any experience/advice they can share I would be most grateful.

Thanks

jaggyjim

Anybody at all?? I know it may be difficult trying to picture what I've described but if anyone even has any ideas, it would really help me out. Gardener is coming round tomorrow, weather permitting.

Thanks again

Lotus-eater

A wall would probably have done a better and longer lasting job.

But if you are stuck with what you have, just tell him you want extra posts, if you want them. As with alot of tradesmen, they get away with what they can, not what's always best.

ps, I'm not an expert on this at all.

blossomhill_2

Key phrase is "act as a retaining wall" - it won't, it is a fence and will rot if it has soil (especially very wet soil, against it. He is offering you a temporary fix instead of proper rectification, to get shot of you asap.

You really need an independant survey, or perhaps (Which? if you are a member?) legal advice. I would put off tomorrow's meeting and tell him you are seeking advice

I am not an expert either but managed an estate with plenty of retaining walls, and they struggled to hold the weight of soil often enough, so I can't see why anyone would think fencing would do the job



HTH

blossomhill_2

jaggyjim wrote: »

After many many months of deliberating and searching, we eventually took the plunge and employed a landscaping firm to deal with our large sloping back garden. We had the garden split into 2 levels across its width with the area at the bottom of the garden (lower level) actually built up slightly so that there are only 3 steps down.

Further thjought - who designed the alterations - did you ask them to come up with the solution or just say " we want you to do this this and this"?

If it was the landscaping firm then they will be liable for their design (did they provide plans for you to approve?) and if it is not fit for purpose will be liable for redesigning and rebuilding somehting fit for purpose

It sounds as though you/they have terraced the garden, without doing proper calculations about weight of soil etc
HTH

jaggyjim

Thanks for your help and input on this one. Gardener came out Monday and was very apologetic. He is the owner of the company and had sent a team of 4 guys to do the work. Although he said he was on site each day he obviously never picked up on the shortcut, and said he was very !!!!!! off to see what they had done. Gave full reasurrances that work would be rectified asap weather permitting.

The plans were kind of drawn up together as although I had some initial ideas I wasn;t sure it could all be done or would look particularly good.

The soil will be retained by some sleepers which will be placed in front of the fence posts so no soil will be in direct contact with the actual fence panels or posts.

Hopefully this will be sorted soon and we can get back to enjoying the garden.

Thanks again.