Small Retaining Wall DIY Help

Itsvm

Hi

We have a sloped garden and after much discussion have decided to drop the back (to create another level), instead of trying to fill it in 1) because of the cost, 2) because we have no side entrance and everything would need to be bought through the house and 3) because the retaining wall would need to be above 1m to build up.

Building down, surrounding all four edges with a small retaining wall (approx 0.5-0.75m high), and levelling out the ground/equally distributing the ground feels doable as a DIY.

Having looked into it, I feel confident building the wall using railway sleepers, laid horizontal and stacked on their narrow side with posts in concrete to support behind. However, we managed to locally source 19 breeze blocks (excess from a locals building project), but I am not sure how I feel about being capable of laying the concrete footing, stacking the bricks and mortar. Or whether it's cost effective to continue with the blocks or start again with sleepers and use the blocks for another project.

Essentially, what's cheaper - some kind of breeze/concrete blocks or reclaimed railway sleepers.!

As pretty much all of the wall will be buried beneath the soil, or covered by storage (as this is what the lower level will be used for) aesthetic is not a driving factor. However, ease (for a DIYer) and cost are.

The back and front walls would measure approx 4.5*0.5m
While the side walls would measure 3.6*0.5

Any advice/guidance greatly appreciated.

Thanks
VM

gamston

Sleeper are very heavy so take note of their weight before using them
a local landscape garden built a retaining following a path up the various levels in a garden near me, he had 2/3 sleepers stacked small side on small side, but he drilled and pin each one, first one in position drill though it into the ground them bang in a steal rod (too retain it) put on next one (staggered so it looks like brick work) then drill and bang in steal rod,
carrying the bags or sand/cement though the house (if you were doing concrete footings etc) would be a pain, and its easier to use a mixer to get concrete/cement made and you can be doing something else
when I built a block retaining wall (blocks laid small side on small side) I made a "Brickies mate" to apply the cement worked a treat ( I just can't get bricks level normally)

gamston

just looked they make adjustable brickies mates now

Bricky Pro - Adjustable to build all standard wall sizes 4", 6" & 9".

markin

The interlocking concrete blocks that you lay dry may be the easiest, both in bringing in the house and laying, no matter what you do use you have to back fill with stone for drainage and have plenty of drain holes so the is no water pressure on it. And with blocks if it fails you just rebuild it.


I think its ok to lay them on a trench of stone rather than concrete strip also. Concrete may be best though.




https://www.wickes.co.uk/Marshalls-Croft-Textured-Walling---Buff-300-x-170-x-100mm-Pack-of-90/p/187869


Random google... https://www.terraforce.co.uk/gallery/uk-garden-example