How to cover a retaining wall with timber?

[DCostello]

Hi, I have a retaining wall that I would like to cover with timber and I'm looking for some suggestions, as I spend my summer weeding it. These are two ideas i have but with concerns.

If I was to put vertical fence posts in the ground in front of the retaining wall then would digging holes for the poles weaken the foundation of the retaining wall?

Similarly if i was to bolt horizontal lats on the retaining wall and then cover with vertical pailings then would drilling holes in the concrete impact the retaining wall too?

Any other ideas or comments on my ideas are much appreciated. Photo of the retaining wall attached. 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @DCostello,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

With a retaining wall of this size, it is a good idea to be extremely cautious as the weight of the soil it is holding back would be considerable and any water held within this soil would increase the load applied to the wall.

For this reason, I wouldn't suggest applying slats directly to the wall as this will limit its ability to drain. The retaining wall would have been designed and installed with specific drainage requirements that should not be changed without consideration and consultation with an engineer.

Digging holes to install fence posts could affect the foundation slightly, but if you have them around 300mm back from the retaining wall, the effect would be minimal and once backfilled, would return to normal.

I would consider building a freestanding structure. Something more along the lines of a fence.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Noyade and @Nailbag for their thoughts.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @DCostello 

Weeding is a pain for sure. 

Changing the look of a retaining wall is always a quandry...

I think you can with a little bit of your ideas, @JacobZ 's and mine...

I am proposing a "sloping cover" to your walls.

If you dig a shallow hole between the concrete supports that go into the ground, think foot by a foot square. Then using a HanDIY Products 10 x 10 x 10cm Post Support U Bracket And Flat Plate style bracket (you could even concrete in the bolts needed so these brackets would slip over your bolts)

This way you can slope your support post back against the existing wall. The block of concrete is to stop it wanting to push out so easily.

If you put in these types of posts every 3 sections (in the middle of them) then you can mount rails horizontaly across them to pretty much install a sloping fence over the top. I would also suggest at the top of the post where it meets the top of the existing retaining wall to bolt to a rail that sits all the way behind the concrete sections horizontaly.

The rail at the top is going to be a clamp so you cant pull the sloped fence towards you if you stand in front of it.

Picture this

The post against the existing wall. (its at the same angle as the wall, leaning on it)

At the top there is the post, then notched into that a short section of timber going back like your concrete sections to behind the topmost line of concrete sections. This is what is screwed to that horizontal rail that runs along the length (across the width of your yard), distruibuting the weight so its against all the wall.

Once you have that frame work then you can install the vertical sections against the two or three if you want horizontal rails. The water should still be able to exit through the front of the retaining walls blocks, you are just creating a cover for them.

If you cant picture it I can try and draw it up later I just should be digging up some clay for paving and drainage hahahah

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @DCostello 

The simplest solution would be to build another wall in front. And no, the new wall post would not affect the structural integrity of the sloping brick structure.

Nailbag.

[DCostello]

Thanks @Dave-1 and @JacobZ for your reply a free standing structure acting as a cover makes sense. And thanks @Dave-1 for sharing the link for the post support. I'll use those to hold the posts in place

[DCostello]

Thanks @Nailbag for your reply much appreciated 

[Nailbag]

Glad to be of help @DCostello