Retaining wall- garden

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keithdc
keithdc Posts: 459 Forumite
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Hi,

Our garden is at two levels- the difference in height is small (approx 20 cm).

Currently there is a brick wall, but bricks are just laid on top of each other and no foundation (2 bricks high), so we want a more permanent solution.

Current thought is put a permanent small wall there (may have a go myself).

However, was wondering if there might be any other alternative (either cheaper or looks nicer)- would love to hear ideas.

Thanks
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  • somethingcorporate
    somethingcorporate Posts: 9,449 Forumite
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    Wooden sleepers? We used these as steps (2 stacked on top will be circa 20cm high) and they look great.
    Thinking critically since 1996....
  • keithdc
    keithdc Posts: 459 Forumite
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    Thanks for this idea- hadn't thought of sleepers.
    Definitely a goer- although delivery may be expensive/ tricky (but manageable).

    Does anyone else have any other ideas?
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
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    How long is the wall?

    What access do you have?

    Budget?
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 14,712 Forumite
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    keithdc wrote: »
    hadn't thought of sleepers.


    A word of caution with sleepers - Old railway sleepers are soaked in creosote and tar. Come the warm summer months, the stuff will very quickly transfer to clothing and any pets that rub against it. Another danger is asbestos from the brake shoes of engines & rolling stock.


    By all means, use sleepers, but avoid the old railway cast offs.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
  • keithdc
    keithdc Posts: 459 Forumite
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    getmore4less wrote: »
    How long is the wall?

    What access do you have?

    Budget?

    Its the width of our garden- about 10 metres.

    Access- we have a side passage- essentially a door way width to enter (but wider once through the doorway).

    Budget- guess a brick wall would be in the £400-600 category (I may be very wrong on this, but assume a couple of people for a day plus materials), whereas sleepers would be around £150- so somewhere in that broad ballpark.
    If it looks good and lasts longer, happy to pay slightly more.
  • -taff
    -taff Posts: 14,542 Forumite
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    dry stone wall?
    Shampoo? No thanks, I'll have real poo...
  • ouraggie
    ouraggie Posts: 291 Forumite
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    We have a similar "wall" in our garden. When we moved in the soil on the higher half was just held back by tall log roll. We moved here April 2001 and my partner and I have only just needed to replace it, as it was rotting in places.
    We got the new 30cm log roll from eBay ( I've seen it in various normal shops since) and then bought 12 metal fixing pins from B &M. They were about£1 each. It took us a day to pull out the old logroll and bash in the new.
    We put 3 coats of dark brown wood preservative on the logroll first. IIRC this was about 5 quid for a massive tub from poundstretcher (Ronseal). Had enough left to paint the fence to match.
  • vic_sf49
    vic_sf49 Posts: 533 Forumite
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    Can you use wooden fence posts instead of proper sleepers? I've used those to edge my grass, so my mower doesn't fall off the edge of the lawn.

    Or use a wood effect concrete paving sleepers. Stonewood or a similar name.

    Or whack some breeze blocks in as the wall, then use outdoor tile/paving and 'tile' the wall.
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
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    If you wanted to break it up from a straight run would some raised beds fit in a design.

    Loads of ideas if you Google.
  • somethingcorporate
    somethingcorporate Posts: 9,449 Forumite
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    getmore4less wrote: »
    If you wanted to break it up from a straight run would some raised beds fit in a design.

    Loads of ideas if you Google.


    We did exactly this, raised beds into the sleeper design.


    +1 on not using old railway sleepers - they are full of stuff that oozes out when they get hot and is most unpleasant. Lots of places sell new sleepers.
    Thinking critically since 1996....
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