The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:14 pm**

Wonder if anyone could help me. At the bottom of my garden we have a ditch (7 foot drop), in the winter it does fill with water.

I would like to extend my garden one fence panel x 4 fence panels, but in order to achieve this we would need to build a retaining wall and fill in the space. I have had a quote and he said he would do it with gravel boards, when I queried him about drainage he said the water would seep through the gravel boards.

I have researched on the internet and a lot have stated a perforate pipe would be needed, along with drainage gravel next to the retaining wall. Due to high pressure from the soil and the water wanting to drain.

Please can someone tell me which one is correct, because I'm concerned if it is done incorrectly, it could be dangerous.

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:47 pm**

Pretty impossible to give any advice without a few more details or some pictures?

How high is the area retained what surface is it where does water fall too etc etc.

In very general terms gravel boards would probably not provide enough drainage on their own without some sort of weep hole arrangement or even just using spacers between them.

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:53 pm**

At the moment it is retained with plastic boards (was like this when we purchased). I presume it drains into the ditch, that fills up when we have rain.

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:59 pm**

Something like that would need digging out, blinding with concrete and a proper slab cast with reinforcing rebar and comig up where the wall will be for the foundations, a kicker would need to be cast for a shutter. Maybe gabions could be used, or hollow concrete blocks, weep holes would be needed to be addaed. Whatever method you use you need to consult a structural engineer first.

Posted: **Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:55 pm**

The key factor here is the height, do you plan to retain the full 7 foot drop? if so its a major job and needs engineered as sean says.

If however its just a foot then gravel boards may work

Posted: **Tue Jul 22, 2014 7:31 pm**

Thank you, was hoping there would be a cheaper solution

Posted: **Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:31 pm**

gabions would work, but some pictures etc would help and id want an engineers design

Posted: **Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:54 pm**

portie the way your man says it will almost certainly fail
there is no way of cheaply building anything 7 feet high that needs to retain earth
a structural engineer will need to be engaged
LLL

Posted: **Wed Jul 23, 2014 5:45 pm**

Another option is to leave a nice stable slope and then put decking over, and then you just need to build columns to support the decking. However anything at this height will need building control approval.

The Brew Cabin

Retaining wall