Advice on DIY wooden sleeper wall project
Hi there.
I have no previous experience in this at all and have just been watching tons of YouTube videos to see what can be done.
My plan is to have vertical posts/stakes cemented in which will sit behind the sleepers for extra support. I want them behind and not infront for asthetic purposes.
For extra support, i will have deadmen / t-bar supports which will be going in towards the drive and I will support them by connecting them all together.
This video explains much clearer what i want to do....
I will have gravel at the base of the wall, inside, with also a perforated pipe for drainage. I will run this along the whole length and will come out at either ends where there is grass. (As shown in the video as well).
The wall will be around 1.5 metres high and we are thinking of then having resin for the driveway area and gravel for the rest but that may change when we are ready to do that part.
The stairs seen to be the biggest challenge. Do I secure each row with a stake?
Just wanted to know if I am doing the right things.
Comments (18)
rachelmidlands
3 years agoRelated Discussions
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Sonia
3 years agozaif_minhas
3 years ago
E D
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
arc3d
3 years agoHi zaif,
Your method for building the sleeper wall seems quite accurate, but I'm not convinced that stairs made from sleepers will be good idea. Wood becomes very slippery when its wet and not too durable in high traffic areas. I would suggest stone stairs in between the sleeper walls.
Another way of relieving pressure on a retainer wall is by terracing i.e. building a series of smaller walls, which would be my preference as its eaier to diy and becuase at 1.5m high you will be creating an "expanse" of wood. Terracing will soften the amount of wood on show.
Too much wood:
Terraced:
P.S. Any retainer wall over 2m will need planning consent and needs to be designed by a structural engineer.E D
3 years agozaif_minhas
3 years agozaif_minhas
3 years agoSonia
3 years agozaif_minhas
3 years agoarc3d
3 years agoNo @zaif_minhas, the shorter the wall gets the less load bearing it does. So by terracing you reduce the load on all walls. The further back the upper wall, the less load it puts on the lower wall too. That's why stairs don't carry much load because they are in essence a series of small walls placed one behind the other. I've done a very crude diagram to demonstrate:
With regards to the steps. Its usually the edge of the sleepers that wears out first. Soft wood won't last long at all, hard wood will last much longer but stone will happily sit there for a 100 years.
@ED, sorry I was referring to height. Above 2m needs structural calculations and has to be approved by the council.
I like the picture! I think its supposed to be a giant flying platform travelling over the sea. It's well ahead of its time!zaif_minhas
3 years agoarc3d
3 years agozaif_minhas
3 years agoSonia
3 years agomii2
3 years agomii2
3 years ago
OnePlan