WHAT IS A SLEEPER RETAINING WALL – EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW

Looking to contain the slope just beside the garden or want to terrace it? Consider constructing a retaining wall.

Retaining walls are an efficient system of keeping flood water, soil and mud contained. You’ve probably seen retaining walls around, on the side of mountain roads to keep inclined soil contained, and along low lying beaches to keep water at bay.

If you’d like to know more about retaining walls don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Now, here is everything you’ve ever wanted to know about retaining walls: what is a sleeper retaining wall, different types of retaining walls, what sleeper walls require in terms of support, and much more.

Types of sleepers to build retaining walls

Timber sleepers

Traditionally, railway lines were built using timber sleepers. However, the disadvantage of timber sleepers is that they aren’t as durable as concrete sleepers. Timber sleepers are prone to humidity and rotting.

There are a variety of timbers that may be used to construct retaining walls:

• Regular timber
• Treated timber
• Recycled timber

Today’s technology allows the painting of retaining timber walls. So, you can match the retaining wall with the environment or the theme of your property.

Concrete sleepers

Concrete sleepers are ideal for retaining wall construction. They are smoother in terms of texture and design. These sleepers are durable and can last for several decades.
The available textures and designs means that you are no longer limited to the conventional grey concrete. Concrete retaining walls can now be used to increase the aesthetic value of your home.

Sleeper retaining walls require support

Sleeper retaining walls need support in order to be able to contain soil and flood water. This is especially true of mountain soil on an inclined slope.

This support comes from a deep foundation and requires that the walls be erected at a precise angle. The depth and angle depend on the soil type, humidity and a few other geographic factors of the area. This is when it’s important to get an experts opinion before constructing such a wall. Connect with us anytime for a thorough appraisal of your land before starting any retaining wall construction.

Let’s not forget drainage. An adequate drainage system is a must if you want your retaining walls to hold their place for decades. The drainage system distributes the water force ensuring that pressure is spread equally along the wall.

Advantages of a sleeper retaining wall

Sleeper container walls can be attractive and if finished properly, may even raise the value of a property by a couple of hundred dollars.

Following are some of the major advantages of sleeper retaining walls.

• Easy to Install

The installation of a sleeper retaining wall is fairly easy and with a little training, you can do the job yourself.

• Freedom of Choice

In addition to the types i.e. timber and concrete, you have the freedom of selecting the design from various themes and textures. Even the concrete sleepers are now treated in various colours to boost aesthetic appeal.