The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:12 am**

Hi guys,

A customer has a 2 tier garden, steps walking up to the higher level, alongside the steps theres wooden posts in concrete, they stop at the height of the top step.
the customer wants a staggered upward row of posts from the top step post on the right joining up to the posts at the back (rear flowerbed)

Line of posts running to rear retaining wall, going up in height from top step to finish at height of rear retaining wall

i know the posts will be in concrete but what other support should i put behind the posts to keep them structurally sound for when i put earth behind? the fence on the right is featheredge fencing.

The guy has at least 10 leftover sleepers was contemplating putting some pond liner up against the fence (so doesnt rot)

Then 5 sleepers against fence to stop it being pushed out by the weight of earth when i fill it.

Any other ideas???

???

Posted: **Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:58 am**

if you sink the post in deep enough they will be alright on their own i would think, in good ground. when we have done this before we augered down about 4 feet with a 6" auger put the 7' tanilsed 4" round post in and back filled with the earth and compacted with a fencing bar (6 foot long wedge at one end 2" round foot on other) as we went with dry material.

and you can tie them together horizontally as well with any spare posts you have

Posted: **Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:33 pm**

i would build a concrete retaining wall using slotted concrete posts and some gravel boards, then put the poles in front. quick and easy fix

Posted: **Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:23 pm**

What height are each of the tiers. The best method to use depends on what height you need. You have 6 steps on your plan so I would assume that the wall is 1-1.2m high. Pond liner is to expensive to use as a backfill liner better off with heavy gauge plastic like Visqueen it's 10 times cheaper and not as heavy.

Posted: **Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:12 pm**

problem i have with all this is that where does the water go that gets trapped behing the visqueen ?
LLL?

there aint a lot of old timber forts or castles left are there?

:;):

Posted: **Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:50 am**

just butt them up and backfill. visquin will just hold the water adding to the weight pushing against the posts.

Posted: **Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:07 pm**

Thats why everyone who does this for a living puts drainage in behind the plastic. The trick is to not let any soil touch the wood front or back if it does then it rots and is easliy damaged by strimmers etc. I've done many different types of planters and walling etc with wood all have been protected by plastic and all still look great haven't moved an inch dating back 12 years. And thats with some of the most waterlogged soil in the british isles. Lifespan of something like this using british softwood 16-20 years if done properly. Most gardens would need a refurb within that space of time anyway.

The Brew Cabin

Retaining wall of posts