Re: new home front yard landscape ideas

amySA

Hello all!

I am shortly looking at doing my front yard landscaping. My site plans indicate a "batter" is required as there is a slight slope from the house pad to the boundary. From what I can tell, the batter is indicated around 1.5m from the paving.

It is approximately a 6% decline in total from paving to boundary.

I have moderately reactive clay soil and have already noticed some movement.

My question is, does battering = retaining?

It is quite a small yard.

This is current (minus the weeds, they are gone)

Would I be looking at doing something like this?

or just a post and sleeper retaining at around the 1.5m out?

I would like to keep paths on either side for convience.

I hope this all makes sense!

EricL

Hello @amySA

If you prefer to use sleepers for your landscaping, they can be an excellent and visually appealing choice for building a retaining wall to stabilize your yard. Sleepers are particularly well-suited to small yards because they are versatile, relatively easy to install, and provide a clean, structured look. Here's how you can approach this project:

Start by selecting the type of sleepers you’d like to use. Treated pine sleepers are a cost-effective and lightweight option, while hardwood sleepers offer durability and a more premium appearance. Both are available at the store in various sizes, and you can choose based on your aesthetic preference and budget. If you want a longer-lasting, low-maintenance option, consider composite or concrete sleepers, which resist decay and weathering.

To begin, measure and mark out where the retaining wall will go, ensuring it aligns with the 1.5m batter area and the slight slope of your yard. Excavate a shallow trench where the base of the wall will sit. This trench should be approximately 100–150mm deep and wide enough to accommodate the sleepers. Lay a base of crusher dust or road base in the trench, compacting it to create a stable foundation.

Next, position the first layer of sleepers horizontally in the trench, ensuring they are level. Use galvanized retaining wall posts, such as H- or C-posts, to secure the sleepers in place. These posts can be driven into the ground or set in concrete, depending on the height and weight of the retaining wall. For additional stability, you can reinforce the structure by attaching sleepers to the posts with galvanized screws or bolts.

If your wall will be higher than one or two sleepers, include drainage at the back of the wall. Place an agi pipe (flexible drainage pipe) behind the sleepers, covering it with drainage gravel to prevent water buildup and reduce pressure on the wall. Finally, backfill the area behind the wall with soil.

Once your retaining wall is in place, you can landscape the rest of the yard. Consider planting drought-tolerant ground covers, shrubs, or even a small lawn area on top of the retained slope to complete the look. In regards to the path, you'll need to provide space for it when constructing your retaining wall. I recommend drawing it on paper first so that you can quantify the amount of materials you'll be using.

Here are some discussions and guides you might find useful:

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

amySA

Thanks for your response.

Are composite sleepers strong enough to hold back soil effectively? I like the idea of less prep of these.

I've gone through the process of using wooden sleepers in the back yard and it was alot more prep then I would have liked. Although with wooden it's more flexible in terms of lengths etc

EricL

Hello @amySA

Yes, composite sleepers can be used for retaining walls. However, if it is a heavy-duty retaining wall, FITTA suggests contacting them directly for the engineering specifications.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

amySA

Thanks, do you have any resources at all that visually show how a retaining wall edge should butt up against paving?? i currently have a haunch on the paving which is not looking great due to movement. Just wondering if the edge of the wall sits against pavers or against the haunch? Having difficulty understanding

EricL

Hi @amySA

From a building point of view, I would probably put a little bit of a distance between the haunch and the location of the footing for the retaining wall. This is to make sure that it does not affect your pavers layout.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Build Retaining Wall.

Once you've seen the guide, it should give you a better idea of how far you need to be from your pavers.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

amySA

Thanks Eric.

One last question. If I was only needing the wall to be approx 15cm high, could I use the ridgi system and just use one sleeper to achieve the height?

JacobZ

Hi @amySA,

That would be perfectly fine.

The Ridgi 150 x 50mm 1.5m Reinforced Concrete Sleepers come in a variety of finishes to add a bit of flair to your retaining wall.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

EricL

Hello @amySA

Here is a little bit of inspiration for you just to give you an idea of what it could look like once the turf is in place. Once you have your retaining wall up and filled the area with soil, it should look very close to this picture.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Need new home front yard landscape ideas

Need new home front yard landscape ideas